Carved Wakahuia (tiki design) by Wood Masters

Wakahuia

Carved in New Zealand from hardwood

21cm x 10cm x 9cm

About Waka Huia:

Waka huia and papa hou are treasure containers for storing prized personal possessions, such as hei tiki, feathers for decorating the hair, and other items of personal adornment. Waka huia and papa hou were imbued with the tapu (taboo) of their owners because they contained personal items that regularly came into contact with the body, particularly the head (the most tapu part of the body).

Both waka huia and papa hou were highly prized in themselves and carefully treasured as they passed between generations. As taonga they were often gifted to acknowledge relationships, friendships, and other significant social events.

About the Tiki:

To Maori the Tiki was a revered taonga, but the origins of the Tiki are obscure. To some the Tiki is the first man created by Tane. Hei Tiki is said to have held a wealth of knowledge and a great teacher of all things and the wearer would possess similar qualities. In some areas the Tiki would be buried with the guardian and later retrieved by the family and gifted to a family member holding many memories for years to come. It is also believed by some to be a good luck charm and is also regarded as a fertility symbol.