Andrew Biggs
Moderator
Tohora Waiata (Whale Song)
The whale, which lives in the domain of the sea God Tongaroa, was, and still is, very important to Maori. It was sometimes seen as a guardian to the first canoes that journeyed to Aotearoa New Zealand and features in many tribal legends and stories and is much revered.
Stranded whales were harvested for food and the bones used to make fighting weapons like the patu and wahaika which were hand held fighting clubs/cleavers. The teeth and smaller bones were used as decorative neck ornaments. Often the Pakake (minke whale) was carved into the barge boards of the pataka (food storage house) because it represented prosperity and abundance. Often the Pakake was depicted with the manaia (bird like creature) attending them.
Today, when whales get stranded there are great efforts to return them to the sea. However the whales that cannot be returned are still harvested for their bones and teeth which are distributed to licensed carvers that work them into beautiful neck pendants and the occasional ceremonial weapon. The small town of Kaikoura, on the east coast of the South Island, runs a very successful Whale Watch operation where people can hunt whales with their cameras and enjoy these magnificent lords of the ocean.
At the back of the knife you can see the head of the whale and the body is represented by the two large spirals. The tail flows up to the front of the knife and is a stylized manaia head. The spiral bright cuts in the body reflect the light and when the knife is tilted it gives the whale movement as the light shifts down and around the cuts.
Cheers
Andrew
The whale, which lives in the domain of the sea God Tongaroa, was, and still is, very important to Maori. It was sometimes seen as a guardian to the first canoes that journeyed to Aotearoa New Zealand and features in many tribal legends and stories and is much revered.
Stranded whales were harvested for food and the bones used to make fighting weapons like the patu and wahaika which were hand held fighting clubs/cleavers. The teeth and smaller bones were used as decorative neck ornaments. Often the Pakake (minke whale) was carved into the barge boards of the pataka (food storage house) because it represented prosperity and abundance. Often the Pakake was depicted with the manaia (bird like creature) attending them.
Today, when whales get stranded there are great efforts to return them to the sea. However the whales that cannot be returned are still harvested for their bones and teeth which are distributed to licensed carvers that work them into beautiful neck pendants and the occasional ceremonial weapon. The small town of Kaikoura, on the east coast of the South Island, runs a very successful Whale Watch operation where people can hunt whales with their cameras and enjoy these magnificent lords of the ocean.
At the back of the knife you can see the head of the whale and the body is represented by the two large spirals. The tail flows up to the front of the knife and is a stylized manaia head. The spiral bright cuts in the body reflect the light and when the knife is tilted it gives the whale movement as the light shifts down and around the cuts.
Cheers
Andrew
