Patiti – Pounamu Adze

Description

This taonga is a patiti, a form based on the steel adzes that were traded extensively with Māori following the arrival of Europeans in Aotearoa. Its distinctive shape reflects an important period of change, when new materials and technologies were being incorporated into everyday Māori life.

Before steel tools became available, toki and other adzes were made from Pounamu and different types of stone. These were highly valued and effective tools, but steel offered a stronger and more efficient cutting edge. Māori quickly recognised its advantages, and steel adzes became widely used for carving, building and other practical work.

For me, that history gives the patiti a particularly relevant meaning. It represents ingenuity and adaptability — recognising when something new can help, being willing to change the way things have always been done, and using the best tools and knowledge available to achieve a good outcome. It is not about leaving tradition behind, but about carrying knowledge forward while adapting to changing circumstances.

This patiti is carved from beautiful Kahurangi Pounamu, bringing the form back into stone and connecting the history of the steel adze with the material that came before it. It is finished with a harakeke green wax cord.

As a taonga, the patiti can represent an adaptable and practical person: someone willing to learn, change and find better ways forward while remaining grounded in where they have come from.

Size: 65mm

Material: Kahurangi Pounamu/Nephrite Jade

Location: Hokitika