Some Maori tribes have a strong relationship to their art and how it is presented. I like to apologize if I accidentally interpret the carving wrong.

The Manaia is an ancient mythical being with a bird's head and a human or fish body. It is said to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits. The Manaia is a holder of great spiritual energy and is a guardian against evil. The Manaia can be seen blended into Maori designs with subtile differences between tribes. A Mainaia is a spiritual Guardian Provider, Protector over the air, waters and land.

Matau (Fish hook)
Maui fished up the North Island of New Zealand... A good luck charm giving peace, prosperity, good luck and good health... For the Maori, the fish hook was very important. "Kai moana", food from the sea... the main source of protein but also important for trade... Designs were developed to suit every fishing expedition, whether it was to catch the in-shore kahawai or the deep-water hapuku. The shark hooks, for example, had a wooden shaft and a bone barb. The Matau represents peace, prosperity, good luck, good health.

Hei-Matau (looks like a Fish hook)
A Hei-Matau is a Matau but you can't fish with it. These very stylized fish hooks represent prosperity, abundance and fertility. Wearing the Hei-Matau is a sign of respect for the sea and its creatures so it is also regarded a good luck charm providing protection and safety while travelling over water.
Many of these pieces also incorporate traditional decorative surface carvings.

These pieces are a mixture of mostly traditional styles that don't fit into other areas on this site. They include special designs such as the sacred Tiki along with some that are based on figures from the carvings found on war canoes and buildings.
The Maori also made many tools, household items, and weapons from bone or jade such as needles, chisels, clubs and combs.

The koru shape is a scroll shape and is direct linked to the New Zealand fern plant. The shoot of the fern has a curled-over tip which unfurls and becomes a fern leaf. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new positive beginnings...
The koru, represents the unfolding of new life, that everything is reborn and continues. It represents renewal and hope for the future. Spiral, geometry of life, sacred creation...

Tahei (Disk)
The disk represents Io (the beginning, nothingness): continuity, no beginning, no end, contained.

Karori (Twist)

Muri Paraoa (Wail Tail)
The whale tail represents speed and strength. People use it as a good luck charm.

Wheke (Octopus)
The wheke represents intelligence.

Kotuku (Heron)
"Te tahei of nga kotuku". The entwining of the white herons.

Mangopare (Hammerhead shark)
It represents strength.

Ihu whaka (Prow of the Maori canoe)
The prow of a canoe represents the future.

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