What do Māori designs and shapes symbolise?

Each Māori design carries unique cultural significance: Koru: New beginnings, growth, harmony Toki: Strength, resilience, wisdom Pounamu Bracelet: Connection, protection, unity Hei Matau: Prosperity, strength, safe journeys Pikorua: Aroha (love), enduring bonds, life's cycles Roimata: Healing, empathy, connection Porowhita: Life cycle, harmony, interconnectedness Whale’s Tail & Niho: Guardianship, intelligence, aroha Manaia & Breastplate: Protection, balance, resilience Each item purchased comes with its own individual meaning card. Learn more about their stories and meanings here .

How are the pendants or bracelets packaged, and what comes with my purchase?

Each pounamu pendant or bracelet is carefully packaged with its meaning and care cards to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Your purchase includes: An individual meaning card explaining the cultural significance of the chosen design A care card with instructions on maintaining your pounamu A protective linen eco pouch for bracelets or a certified eco box for pendants Secure packaging in a recyclable shipping box made from recycled materials Upgrades and Additional Options: You can add these upgrades on the product page: Gift Wrapping: Optional gift wrapping with a personal handwritten tag. Kete Packaging: Display your pounamu in a traditional kete (flax basket).

Medium Manaia Whale's Tail

Name: Medium Manaia Whale's Tail
Brand: Oceania Jade
SKU: JBP1841a
Price: 349.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

$349.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Color

Kahurangi

Kawakawa

Free delivery within NZ

Meaning & care cards included

Get it engraved for the perfect gift

Manaia, a symbol of balance and protection. Crafted and polished from greenstone, this pendant features a bird's head, a man's body, and a fish's tail, representing a powerful spiritual guardian. It comes with an adjustable cord and is presented in an eco box with hand-drawn Manaia meaning and care cards.

4.1cm x 2.1cm

Durability: While pounamu (greenstone) is celebrated for its robustness, its dense nature makes it vulnerable to shock. Handle with care to maintain its integrity.

Protection: Avoid placing or wearing your pounamu on hard surfaces where it might get chipped.

Wear Often: Wear your pounamu frequently to enhance its shine with your natural skin oils. The cord is durable but will naturally wear over time.

Cleaning: Simply use a soft, damp cloth and mild soap for your pounamu. Beeswax or coconut oil can also be applied to moisturise the stone. Avoid harsh chemicals, as they may harm its surface.

NZ Delivery: Free delivery within NZ (1-2 days)

International Delivery:

Returns: easy returns within 5 working days. Please contact us on hello@arrowtownstonework.co.nz

Click here for more info

Add our Kete Basket

Complement your chosen pounamu with a Kete Basket, crafted from authentic Māori harakeke weaving.

Flax Kete - $24.90

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Manaia

This pendant symbolises balance, protection, and unity between the natural and spiritual realms. With the head of a bird, body of a human, and tail of a fish, the Manaia connects sky, earth, and sea. As a spiritual guardian, it embodies strength and courage, offering protection against adversity.

Harmony & Well-being

The Manaia highlights the seamless relationship between humans and nature, encouraging harmony and safeguarding hauora (well-being). It serves as a reminder of the importance of balance and protection, reinforcing cultural values and the interconnectedness of all living things.

What our customers think

FAQs

We respect your choice and do not bless our finished pounamu pieces. However, we encourage those who purchase to consider blessing it before gifting. Please see the answer below regarding "How can I bless pounamu."

Blessing pounamu is a personal choice often associated with gifting to someone close. Seek guidance from a Kaumatua or local Marae for traditional practices. Alternatively, you can honor tradition by cleansing the pounamu in a river or stream with a karakia (prayer), or by blessing it with the recipient to share your intentions. These methods allow for meaningful engagement with pounamu according to personal beliefs and connections.

Yes, you can buy pounamu for yourself without cultural taboo. In Māori history, pounamu was both a cherished gift and a traded commodity among tribes, symbolizing honor, respect, and enduring value. Whether purchased or received, owning a pounamu taonga carries deep spiritual significance, enhancing personal mana (spiritual life force) and connecting past traditions with the present. Whether for yourself or as a gift to friends or loved ones, the choice that feels meaningful to you is important.

Each river-tumbled pounamu bracelet is uniquely shaped and colored, showcasing its natural beauty. During checkout, you can leave a note for our whānau specifying your preferences for the bracelet's shape or color, and we'll do our best to accommodate your request.

Each Māori design carries unique cultural significance:

Koru: New beginnings, growth, harmony
Toki: Strength, resilience, wisdom
Pounamu Bracelet: Connection, protection, unity
Hei Matau: Prosperity, strength, safe journeys
Pikorua: Aroha (love), enduring bonds, life's cycles
Roimata: Healing, empathy, connection
Porowhita: Life cycle, harmony, interconnectedness
Whale’s Tail & Niho: Guardianship, intelligence, aroha
Manaia & Breastplate: Protection, balance, resilience

Each item purchased comes with its own individual meaning card. Learn more about their stories and meanings here.

Each pounamu pendant or bracelet is carefully packaged with its meaning and care cards to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Your purchase includes:

An individual meaning card explaining the cultural significance of the chosen design
A care card with instructions on maintaining your pounamu
A protective linen eco pouch for bracelets or a certified eco box for pendants
Secure packaging in a recyclable shipping box made from recycled materials

Upgrades and Additional Options:

You can add these upgrades on the product page:

Gift Wrapping: Optional gift wrapping with a personal handwritten tag.
Kete Packaging: Display your pounamu in a traditional kete (flax basket).

Yes, we offer a re-binding service for your treasured pendant or bracelet using expertly hand-woven binding. Renew your valued piece by purchasing our re-binding services here and sending it to our Arrowtown workshop.

If you have a special request for your engraving that isn't covered in the standard options, such as additional characters or a unique symbol, please contact us via email at hello@arrowtownstonework.co.nz.

We will do our best to accommodate your personalised pounamu request

Celebrate Treasured Moments with Pounamu

Over 35 Years of Greenstone Carving in Arrowtown

Our whānau workshop, led by my father, a master carver from Ngāti Kahungunu, carves and shapes traditional Māori designs that celebrate meaning and connection with friends, whānau, or loved ones.

Learn More