Elegant Roimata Toroa Pendant on Sterling Silver Chain

This Roimata Toroa is an elegant and timeless pendant.  That green and white mixed and folded together – its too gorgeous to describe really.

It would work just as well with your stunning black dress as it would with your BBQ best or your afterschool pick-up outfit.  I have one and I wear it all the time. I love it.  It makes me feel classy, elegant and, well, like a queen.

The Roimata Toroa speaks of the importance of following tikanga and respecting the wisdom of those who are here to help us on our journey.  Roimata Toroa also symbolises a deep unabiding sorrow, as that felt by Pourangahua for his mistakes.  Moreover, Roimata Toroa symbolises an unbreakable love, like the love Ruakapanga felt for his taonga toroa.

Read on to understand the story of Roimata Toroa, the tears cried by two sacred albatross that accompanied Pourangahua to Aotearoa. 

Pourangahua was an agriculturist travelling to Aotearoa to grow kumara. The kumara were gifted to him by Ruakapanga, a tohunga and learned scientist.  

Ruakapanga lent Pourangahua two pet albatrosses to accompany him on his journey. He gave him strict instructions on how to care for the birds, and a karakia to give thanksgiving for their safe return. However, in his hurry to see his wife Kaniowai, Pourangahua took a shortcut, ran into a taniwha, forgot the karakia and failed to care for the birds. Consequently, this led to the bird’s grief and eventual demise.

Upon realising that he had dishonoured Ruakapanga, Pourangahua tries to cover his mistake. He belatedly spoke the karakia, but it was too late. The damage was done, the toroa were weak and abused.  They flew back to Ruakapanga. He was furious when he saw the state of his beloved toroa. In his anger, he cursed the kumara with a blight that can wreak havoc to an entire years crop.

This story comes from Tim’s Te Tairawhiti Ngati Porou whakapapa.  

The Roimata Toroa speaks of the importance of following tikanga and respecting the wisdom of those who are here to help us on our journey.  Roimata Toroa also symbolises a deep unabiding sorrow, as that felt by Pourangahua for his mistakes.  Moreover, Roimata Toroa symbolises an unbreakable love, like the love Ruakapanga felt for his taonga toroa.

The Roimata Toroa speaks of the importance of following tikanga and respecting the wisdom of those who are here to help us on our journey.  Roimata Toroa also symbolises a deep unabiding sorrow, as that felt by Pourangahua for his mistakes.  Moreover, Roimata Toroa symbolises an unbreakable love, like the love Ruakapanga felt for his taonga toroa.

STERLING SILVER CHAIN – in everything we do we try to minimise our impact on Papatūānuku, so rather adding more mined silver to the planet we scour auctions and second-hand shops to source quality sterling silver chain.  All our chains are certified 925 sterling silver and cleaned thoroughly before we pass them on to you. 

• One of a kind taonga by Timoti
• Pounamu from Te Tai Poutini
• Sterling silver box chain 555mm total length.
• Pounamu 89mm length x 0.8mm width