Niho o te Taniwha

Niho Taniwha, tooth of the taniwha in beautiful Kokopu.  This is a stunning example of Whakatū Pounamu. Quite different from the greens of Te Tai Poutini.

Tim left the kiri, the skin, on one side of this niho so you can see and feel the pounamu in its natural, raw form.  Just like a niho would feel. It’s great for those who like to fiddle with something, or when you need to feel ground to the whenua. Plus just looking at all those stunning colours is quite mesmerising.

This taonga also carried whakapapa notches.  Historically these notches recorded every generation and were used as a memory aid when reciting whakapapa.  Now people use them to represent various elements such as Individual whanau members they’d like acknowledged (siblings, parents, grandparents, mokopuna), or generational notches.

This pounamu Taniwha Niho symbolises strength and guardianship, as that of the Taniwha.  It also symbolises iwi and community as the taniwha work to protect both.  While the notches carry your whakapapa with you wherever you go.

Inā kei te mohio koe ko wai koe, I anga mai koe I hea, kei te mohio koe, kei te anga atu ki hea.

If you know who you are and where you are from, then you will know where you are going.

• Kokopu pounamu from Te Tau Ihu.
• Length 60mm x 2mm widest point.
• A 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!💚