The fish-hook shape of the hei matau means to know, which holds that the North Island of New Zealand was once a huge fish that was caught by the great mariner Māui using only a woven line and a hook made from the jawbone of his grandmother.[2] Legend holds that the shape of Hawkes Bay is that of the hei matau, which caught in the fish's side on the beach. The Māori name for the North island, Te Ika a Māui ("The fish of Māui") reflects this legend.
For the Māori, the hei matau is taonga (a cultural treasure). It represents not only their land, but also prosperity, fertility, and safe passage over water. They also denote the importance of fishing to Māori, and their relationship to Tangaroa god of the sea.
Traditionally, matau, or fishhooks, were carved from bone, ivory, shell, wood, or pounamu; composite hooks were also common.[3][4] They came in several different forms. There are multiple apparently functional matau forms, but the functions of some are not known.[3][5] Some were plain and utilitarian; others highly ornate. They were worn as pendants for safekeeping, and were often treasured family heirlooms.
Today, their main use is ornamental and they are commonly worn around the neck not only by Māori, but also by other New Zealanders who identify with the hei matau as a symbol of New Zealand. They are also popular items on the tourist market. Many modern pendants are not functional fish hooks.
In contemporary times, hei matau are commonly carved from cattle bone. Some Māori carvers continue to use whale bone, and such pieces are highly valued not only because of the beauty of whale bone and its cultural and historical significance, but also its scarcity. Current laws against hunting whales mean that Māori bone-carvers who carve in whale bone must use a combination of ancient standings or pre-existing supplies, or bones from whales that have recently beached. According to New Zealand tradition and law, Māori have first claim on part of the skeletons of any whales which strand and cannot be refloated. This is, however, a very limited supply.
Wood and pāua shell matau, with the iridescent shell forming an integrated lure
Mass productionedit
Manufacturers in China mass-produce items resembling hei matau for sale on the New Zealand tourist market. These are usually made of a paste of bone and resin. Such manufacturers have attracted criticism for their appropriation of Māori designs.
^ abPaulin, Chris (2012). "The traditional Māori 'internal-barb' fishhook". Tuhinga: Records of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. 23: 1–8. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
^Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (2006). "Traditional Maori fish hooks and trolling lures". Retrieved 2016-09-07.
^Paulin, Chris (2009). "Porotaka hei matau - a traditional Maori tool?". Tuhinga: Records of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. 20: 15–21. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hei matau.
Hei matau in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
April 10, 2024
matau, matau, bone, greenstone, carving, shape, highly, stylised, fish, hook, they, represent, good, luck, safe, travel, across, water, typical, design, māori, matau, contents, meaning, materials, methods, mass, production, also, references, external, linksmea. A hei matau is a bone or greenstone carving in the shape of a highly stylised fish hook They represent good luck and safe travel across water 1 A typical design of a Maori hei matau Contents 1 Meaning 2 Materials and methods 2 1 Mass production 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksMeaning editThe fish hook shape of the hei matau means to know which holds that the North Island of New Zealand was once a huge fish that was caught by the great mariner Maui using only a woven line and a hook made from the jawbone of his grandmother 2 Legend holds that the shape of Hawkes Bay is that of the hei matau which caught in the fish s side on the beach The Maori name for the North island Te Ika a Maui The fish of Maui reflects this legend For the Maori the hei matau is taonga a cultural treasure It represents not only their land but also prosperity fertility and safe passage over water They also denote the importance of fishing to Maori and their relationship to Tangaroa god of the sea Materials and methods edit nbsp Modern hei matau made of pounamuTraditionally matau or fishhooks were carved from bone ivory shell wood or pounamu composite hooks were also common 3 4 They came in several different forms There are multiple apparently functional matau forms but the functions of some are not known 3 5 Some were plain and utilitarian others highly ornate They were worn as pendants for safekeeping and were often treasured family heirlooms Today their main use is ornamental and they are commonly worn around the neck not only by Maori but also by other New Zealanders who identify with the hei matau as a symbol of New Zealand They are also popular items on the tourist market Many modern pendants are not functional fish hooks In contemporary times hei matau are commonly carved from cattle bone Some Maori carvers continue to use whale bone and such pieces are highly valued not only because of the beauty of whale bone and its cultural and historical significance but also its scarcity Current laws against hunting whales mean that Maori bone carvers who carve in whale bone must use a combination of ancient standings or pre existing supplies or bones from whales that have recently beached According to New Zealand tradition and law Maori have first claim on part of the skeletons of any whales which strand and cannot be refloated This is however a very limited supply nbsp Bone matau a functional circle fishhook nbsp Wood and paua shell matau with the iridescent shell forming an integrated lureMass production edit Manufacturers in China mass produce items resembling hei matau for sale on the New Zealand tourist market These are usually made of a paste of bone and resin Such manufacturers have attracted criticism for their appropriation of Maori designs See also editHei tiki ornamental Maori pendant Manaia Maori mythological creature symbol of protectionReferences edit Some Basic Design Elements amp Their Meanings Te Matau a Maui a b Paulin Chris 2012 The traditional Maori internal barb fishhook Tuhinga Records of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 23 1 8 Retrieved 2016 09 07 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 2006 Traditional Maori fish hooks and trolling lures Retrieved 2016 09 07 Paulin Chris 2009 Porotaka hei matau a traditional Maori tool Tuhinga Records of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 20 15 21 Retrieved 2016 09 07 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hei matau Hei matau in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hei matau amp oldid 1212625214, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
