An incredible Hei Tiki has been handcrafted from an amazing piece of Hapopo Pounamu. We have named him after our native frog, Pepeketua. Sourced from South Westland, this Hei Tiki is a special carving in fantastic Inanga Pounamu and incredible Totoweka streaks throughout and incredible bright Paua eyes highlighting the attention to detail that makes this carver stand out. fantastic carving to be worn with honour and pride a taonga for generations to come.
Hei Tiki- The exact meaning behind the stylized design is deeply rooted in traditional Māori pakiwaitara (stories) and has been interpreted in a few different ways. In Māori legend, Tiki was the first mortal man created by Tāne (the god of the forest), making the carving a symbol of humankind's origins and lineage. Another widely held belief is that the figure represents Hine-te-iwaiwa, the moon goddess and patroness of fertility and childbirth. Because of its shape, many also interpret the design as a stylization of the human embryo. The distinct carved head tilted to the side is believed to symbolize a newborn child or spiritual wisdom. Additionally, the figures frequently display a blend of both male (Tāne) and female (Wāhine) features, representing the balance of life's energies.
Hapopo- Genuine West Coast Greenstone. It's colour ranges from medium green to a dark forest green with a unique mottled texture. The name originating from Kā Umu o Hapopo (Big Bay) which is in Poutini ki te toka (South Westland).
Hand Carved by Des Hetherington
Size 136mm long x 102mm wide x 20mm thick
The provenance of this stone has been established by Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio. This taonga has been carved from genuine New Zealand pounamu with a documented history of ownership and provenance. We proudly stand behind its origin and are privileged to share its story.
This will be the exact piece you will receive in the photos, there may be a slight degree of colour variation based on different computer or device screen resolutions that you are viewing from.
