Small Hei Koru tangiwai Pounamu Aotearoa Greenstone

28mm diameter 8mm thick / adjustable 3-plait black waxed cord

Pounamu sourced from Arahura River, Te Tai o Poutini o Te Waipounamu West Coast of the South Island

The Koru symbolises new life, new beginnings and new hope - making it a perfect gift to celebrate a new chapter in someone’s life.

Wearing a koru gives you harmony, peace and the energy of growth and nurturing. It also affirms your connection with your loved ones, whānau family, whakapapa genealogy as well as Papatūānuku Mother Earth.

The koru, meaning loop or coil, mimics the pītau (unfurled shoot) of our native ponga, the iconic silver fern. While the plant is only found in Aotearoa, the spiral is a universal pattern found all across nature. The symbol represents the essence of life being in perpetual motion yet ever the same; always returning to origin. Koru has always used by Māori to represent nurturing and connection. Koru form kōwhaiwhai patterns, which are found everywhere in traditional Māori art, architecture, carving and tattoo. Their symbols share the stories of their whakapapa.

OUR STORY:
Crafted by hand at the Oro Negro Studio on Karangahape Road. We follow Māori Whakairo protocol in crafting taonga that honours the traditions of tangata whenua o Aotearoa. As Colombian carvers, our practice is also about connecting with our own Indigenous South American art forms. Acknowledging and upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is an integral part of our Aotearoa New Zealand perspective.

CARE OF YOUR TAONGA:
Pounamu polishes and shines itself overtime by absorbing the natural oils of your skin. Likewise, rubbing into the stone’s surface a natural oil such as olive or coconut oil will also add lustre. Our pounamu can be worn daily, yet care should always be taken to minimise impact which could potentially cause hairlines cracks or breaks. Wearing your pounamu close to the skin will always act as a protective measure.