Hei Tiki Pebble – Mana Taonga

When Tim found this pebble in the awa he knew exactly what it was and what he needed to do with it – Hei Tiki.  Papatūānuku had created something beautiful and Tim’s role as the creative was to gently help bring that out.

Hei Tiki literally means a carved human image worn around the neck. Tiki is understood as either the first man created by Tāne, or an atua himself and the progenitor of humanity. Tiki is ancient and found throughout Polynesia. While there is no definite answer as to why Hei Tiki were carved and worn, some believe Hei Tiki were worn to support fertility and protect against miscarriage and still births.  Others believe they may have been protection against vengeful spirits.  And there is also the theory that Hei Tiki represents your tupuna.  I guess we will never really know, what we do know is that Hei Tiki are treasured and have become a well known symbol of te ao Māori around the world.

This taonga has a presence to it that is difficult to describe, you really need to hold it and wear it to feel it.   And just look at that colouring – have you ever seen pounamu like it?  Whakatu does throw up something incredible pounamu specimen.

Learn more about the origins of Mana Taonga here.

• Kokopu pounamu from Te Tau Ihu
• 83mm length x 35mm wide
• One of a kind, taonga by Timoti

💚Now every taonga you purchase helps us to carve a taonga for EVERY tamariki in care in Aotearoa. You can read more about our Tū Māia project here. Ngā mihi mahana for your support of this kaupapa!💚