Whakairia Hei Tiki

This special piece, my first ever hei tiki carving (Whakairia), holds deep meaning for me. Crafted from serpentine pounamu in a vibrant green with dramatic black dendrites, it stands at 11cm and hangs from a braided tan cord. But there’s something unique about this hei tiki.

You’ll notice a visible flaw on the left side of the head, where the rough, unpolished stone remains. This wasn’t by design, but it taught me a valuable lesson. Pounamu is a gift from the earth, and with that gift comes natural variations. Initially, I battled with the imperfection. But I chose to see it differently, and this carving was given its name: Whakairia – to be adorned or ornamented.

This flawed area became an embellishment, a reminder that true beauty lies not in flawlessness, but in the unique story that each piece of stone tells.

In Māori tradition, hei tiki are precious taonga representing protection and well-being. But what if we also embraced the symbolism of our own imperfections? Our flaws, just like those within the stone, are marks of our journey. They represent challenges overcome, moments of growth, and the experiences that shape us into stronger, more resilient individuals.

By wearing our flaws with pride – just as this hei tiki wears its own – perhaps we give ourselves permission to be a little less perfect and a lot more human. We learn to appreciate the unpredictable beauty within ourselves and others.

The black stripy dendrites in this hei tiki are a natural mineral inclusion that adds visual interest to the piece. Dendrites are formed when minerals slowly fill cracks or fissures in the stone. They can be black, brown, or red, and can add a unique and distinctive look to pounamu carvings.

I hope this blog post has given you a little more information about this special hei tiki carving called Whakairia. If you have any questions, please get in touch.