Taonga Uenuku

The atua Uenuku manifests as a rainbow. When we look at this pendant that’s all we’ve ever seen, Uenuku – a rainbow.

Uenuku is a prominent Māori Atua tūpuna and there are many pūrākau related to Uenuku.

Uenuku is particularly special to Tim’s Tainui whakapapa.  Tainui waka brought Uenuku’s spirit over from Hawaiki inside of a stone. This spirit was then transferred into the carving of Te Uenuku.

In our learning around Uenuku we were shown some papers, signed by Tim’s Aunty Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu herself, that describe Uenuku.  Here is a part of those papers for you;

“Kahukura Uenuku was set up as a symbol to man of the godhood of Io, the Supreme Being.  Io was so intensely sacred that even the utterance of his name was avoided, and that is why it was laid down that only to his symbol Uenuku, the Rainbow, were the common people to sing their sacred chants.”

Uenuku is Io.  Uenuku is also an atua of war.  And a rainbow.  Let the learning begin.

Tim carved Uenuku into a toki shape as toki have become a symbol of strength(particularity in time of adversity), courage and fortitude and were also worn by elders as a symbol of power, wisdom and authority.   All these characteristics will be required by the new kaitiaki of  Taonga Uenuku we believe there is much learning ahead for that individual. We encourage you, whoever you are, to dive deep into Uenuku and let that learning take you where needs be.

I took a lot of photos of this taonga because we absolutely love it.  And you can find a little treat at the end, a double rainbow just outside our door the other day.  Enjoy!🌈

• One of a kind taonga by Timoti
• Marsden Flower jade pounamu from Te Tai Poutini
• 70mm length x 39mm max width