Hei Toki Blade Certified Ngāi Tahu Pounamu Aotearoa Greenstone

Hei Toki blade (W16  L73 x D6) mm 

Kawakawa Raukaraka Certified Ngāi Tahu Pounamu from Te Tai o Poutini o Te Waipounamu West Coast of the South Island

Waxed adjustable cording.

This Hei Toki has been crafted by hand in our Oro Negro Studio on Karangahape Road out of New Zealand Totoweka Pounamu stone from the West Coast of the South Island. This piece has been finished off with an adjustable <4-plaited black waxed cord.

The Hei Toki Blade is a culturally significant symbol within the Maori culture, representing courage and strength, particularly in times of difficulty. These blades were carved to be used as chisel tools for the practice of Whakairo (Traditional wood carving), to craft Marae (meeting houses) and Waka (canoes).

Hei Toki pendants were also worn by Māori elders to symbolise power, wisdom, and authority.  The cultural legacy of  Pounamu is far greater than just the tangible objects of
trade. Intangible meanings are also part of the heritage. The acts of making, selling, wearing, admiring, gifting, describing and imagining pieces of greenstone pounamu were expressions of culture in practice. Everyday objects can tell some of these stories and provide accounts of relationships, empowerment and ways of knowing the world.

OUR STORY

Crafted by hand at the Oro Negro Studio on Karangahape Road. We follow Māori Whakairo protocol in crafting taonga that honours the traditions of tangata whenua o Aotearoa. As Colombian carvers, our practice is also about connecting with our own Indigenous South American art forms. Acknowledging and upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is an integral part of our Aotearoa New Zealand perspective.

CARE OF YOUR TAONGA

Pounamu polishes and shines itself overtime by absorbing the natural oils of your skin. Likewise, rubbing into the stone’s surface a natural oil such as olive or coconut oil will also add lustre. Our pounamu can be worn daily, yet care should always be taken to minimise impact which could potentially cause hairlines cracks or breaks. Wearing your pounamu close to the skin will always act as a protective measure.