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Hand carved
Smooth lines, soft finishes, no scratches and no cuts.
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The Manaia is a guardian and protector.
The Manaia is a messenger and spiritual kaitiaki (guardian) of the sky, earth and sea.A greatly respected mythological creature in Māori culture, it brings balance and protection to those you love most.
James Pirika
The artist behind this creationJames Pirika is an emerging New Zealand pounamu carver who has learned his craft in our Rotorua studio working alongside leading artists such as Tamaora Walker and John Sheehan Jnr. His designs are inspired by his culture and heritage, and he's known for carving bold, powerful pieces. James is constantly humbled to learn a significant part of his culture and heritage through carving jade. Maori people didn’t have a written language, they would instead utilise carvings to remind themselves of their past, learning and passing their stories and heritage onto future generations. James is most passionate when it comes to the traditional meanings behind the designs and the stone, strongly believing that it brings people together globally. It is found around the world and so many cultures have seen it as an important element in their culture and identity.
What Manaia traditionally meant to Māori remains somewhat a mystery, but commonly it is considered that they are magical creatures and spiritual kaitiaki (guardians) of things worth protecting.
Manaia
Believed to be a messenger that moves freely between the spirit realm and the human world, the manaia is a mythological creature, greatly respected in Māori culture and a predominant motif in wood and greenstone carving. Māori culture is rich in pūrākau (legends), and within these legends, mythological, supernatural, and magical creatures are featured prominently, often acting as kaitiaki (guardians) of people or places worth protecting.