Te Wai Whakaata – Manaia

Description

Carved from Raukāraka Pounamu and measuring 110mm long, this Manaia takes the shape of a falling droplet of water. It is double sided and can be worn either way, bound with a tan lashing that complements the warmth and depth of the stone. The central design feature is the head of the Manaia, which is turned inward, facing the heart of the piece.

This inward orientation was intentional—a gesture of introspection and reflection. In Te Ao Māori, the Manaia is a guardian and spiritual messenger, a being that moves between realms. Here, it turns its gaze within, suggesting the journey inward is just as sacred as the journey outward.

The water droplet form symbolises the relationship between Pounamu and water—its source, its shaper, and its carrier. Every piece of Pounamu has travelled with water, and in this piece, the Awa is present not only in form but in kaupapa. The contours flow like a stream, and the presence is still yet purposeful.

The name Te Waiwhakaata means “The Reflective Water”—a name that brings together the themes of introspection, guardianship, and the life-giving relationship between stone and river.

See a video of it here.

Size: 110mm

Material: Raukāraka Pounamu/Nephrite

Location: Hokitika

Carver: David Curtis