If you're looking for a reason to buy something meaningful, and haven't quite made your mind up yet, here are some reasons to gift. From supporting local artists, to the deep meaning associated to the stone.
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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.
Gift, with love
Every detail of our packaging is thoughtfully curated, from sustainable, low-ink, recyclable materials to personalised touches like mini-meaning cards and artist profiles. For an extra special touch, our Premium Gift Wrapping service means we wrap your piece in elegant kraft paper, tied with natural string and a woven jute ribbon.
Niki Nepia
The artist behind this creationNiki is an artist who is constantly pushing his technical ability by crafting pounamu carvings that are impressively complex, with his Manaia and Hei Tiki being prime examples. His designs are influenced by the natural surroundings of the Urewera Ranges, a forested area where he grew up. As a teenager, he became interested in carving pounamu and has since built an international career in the art. There is a unique, almost fluid aesthetic seen throughout all of Niki’s work, which when paired with his drive to produce complex carvings, sees him as one of New Zealand’s foremost jade artists.
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.