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.
Aden Hoglund
The artist behind this creationAden’s jade journey began in 1987, when he embarked on a carving course working with bone and jade. He was then employed as a local carver in Hokitika and it was here that his love of jade began to bloom. Aden’s work has been adored and adorned by passionate collectors and celebrities alike, including Barack Obama and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Today, Aden continues to carve with the Mountain Jade team, creating timeless pieces for lucky buyers around the world.
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.