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SKU: 055IL
Carved by Iwi Le Comte (Te Arawa, Ngai Tūhoe, Rongomaiwāhine)
The Niho - Whakataratara design acknowledges the majestic Tohorā (whale), a guardian presence that once graced the waters of Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour), drawn by the rich hunting grounds of deep-sea squid. These teeth-like notches echo the memory of these ancestral visitors and their significance in the natural rhythms of this land.
This form also carries the wairua of the great explorer Kupe, the tohunga-navigator who pursued Te Wheke-a-Muturangi the giant octopus from Hawaiki to the shores of Aotearoa. This epic chase led Kupe to discover this land.
During his time here, Kupe also discovered pounamu (greenstone) and took pieces back to Hawaiki. These treasures would later be shaped into sacred Toki Pounamu (greenstone adzes), tools of leadership, creation, and mana.
This design honours the journeys of the whale, the octopus, and Kupe himself, symbols of knowledge, pursuit, and discovery across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
Material: Obsidian, Kahurangi (NZ Pounamu) and Pāua (Abalone Shell)
Niho Measurements: 90mm (L) x 45mm (W) x 40mm (D)
Stand Measurements: 280mm (H) x 200mm (W) x 100mm (D)
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Māori made with materials from Aotearoa
Every taonga is a reflection of who our artists are and the deep mātauranga that has been passed down. When you choose to buy from Māori artists, you nurture the survival of these traditions.
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