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Hand-carved NZ Pounamu
Hassle-free returnsPlease note: There is a shipping delay on this item, during the exhibition period.
Following the separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, one of their children, Tāwhirimātea, atua of the winds and storms, was overcome with grief. In his sorrow, he tore out his eyes, crushed them and cast them into the upper realm, where they became the cluster we know now as Matariki - an abbreviation of ‘Ngā mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea’, The eyes of the Atua, Tāwhirimātea’.
As he stands, Tāwhiri, depicted as a wheku without eyes, symbolises a world experienced beyond sight, where guidance is felt through intuition and ancestral connection. It is a reminder that even in darkness, we are never without direction.
Forming the backbone of the wheku is a toki, from which the stars of Matariki emerge as manaia, they journey above the protection of the mokomoko. Together, these forms speak to resilience in the face of adversity and the enduring presence of inherited guidance, illuminating pathways through darkness and into renewal. View the stories behind our Matariki Collection.
This collection will be on display at Mānawa Bay from Tuesday 23 June to Sunday 19 July, before moving to our Rotorua store from 20–29 July. Pieces may be purchased throughout the exhibition period and will be delivered once the exhibitions have concluded.
The artist behind this creationWatching his uncle carve extraordinary works of art from wood inspired Jason’s journey into jade carving. Under the expert guidance of Tamaora Walker and Akapita Scally, he is swiftly emerging as an exciting new artist and strives to create his own masterpieces with pounamu.
