Mens Gifts

Hei Matau Hook

In Māori, the word ‘matau’ means fish hook. ‘Hei’ indicates that the matau hangs around the neck. Traditionally for Māori there is a special connection to the fish hook because according to Māori legend, the North Island of New Zealand was once a fish, and was caught and brought up to the surface by Maui; the son of the sky father (Ranginui) and earth mother (Papatūānuku).

The connection to the ocean is another special connection, because te moana (the ocean) is regarded as a very spiritual and sacred life source. Fish hooks made from bone and pounamu would be stored around people’s necks for safekeeping in the early days, and slowly they became more ornamental than practical.

The associations of hei matau include strength, abundance, connection, affiliation with the ocean, and of course a love of fishing! Hei matau are found in a variety of stylised figures; some incorporating other elements of Māori design, and some more traditional in their shape.

This beautiful piece was created by talented carver Ben Callow.

Marama

Maramatanga means enlightenment, insight, understanding, light, these contemporary designs inspired by the marama (moon) represent an indigenous cyclical worldview of intergenerational connections between ancestors and descendants. Some Polynesian ancestors believed that as we move forward in time we are actually returning back to our ancestors

This beautiful piece was created by talented carver Ben Callow.

Hei Matau Hook

In Māori, the word ‘matau’ means fish hook. ‘Hei’ indicates that the matau hangs around the neck. Traditionally for Māori there is a special connection to the fish hook because according to Māori legend, the North Island of New Zealand was once a fish, and was caught and brought up to the surface by Maui; the son of the sky father (Ranginui) and earth mother (Papatūānuku).

The connection to the ocean is another special connection, because te moana (the ocean) is regarded as a very spiritual and sacred life source. Fish hooks made from bone and pounamu would be stored around people’s necks for safekeeping in the early days, and slowly they became more ornamental than practical.

The associations of hei matau include strength, abundance, connection, affiliation with the ocean, and of course a love of fishing! Hei matau are found in a variety of stylised figures; some incorporating other elements of Māori design, and some more traditional in their shape.

This beautiful piece was created by talented carver Ben Callow.

Roimata / Kuru / The Drop

Encourages knowledge, confidence and independence. It gives positive energy, helps healing is often called the comfort stone.

This amazing piece was created by talented carver and artist Ben Callow in Nelson, a small city on the upper west side of New Zealands South Island.

The Toki had much meaning to the Maori, fashioned from stone or greenstone it was an essential tool for survival and day to day life of a Maori tribe. That's the reason the maori attribute the spiritual meaning of strength and power to the Toki, this symbol resembles determination, control, strength focus and honour. Its shape represents an axe head.

This beautiful piece was created in Nelson, a small city on the upper western side of New Zealands South Island by talented carver Ben Callow.

The Toki had much meaning to the Maori, fashioned from stone or greenstone it was an essential tool for survival and day to day life of a Maori tribe. That's the reason the maori attribute the spiritual meaning of strength and power to the Toki, this symbol resembles determination, control, strength focus and honour. Its shape represents an axe head.

This beautiful piece was created in Nelson, a small city on the upper western side of New Zealands South Island by talented carver Ben Callow.