Glossary. . .
Aotearoa
- Maori word for New Zealand.
Deer
Buttons/coronets - The
naturally shed base of the deer antler. See Nature's
Way.
Kauri -
A slow growing and long living conifer that is related to the Sequoias in
California. Kauri trees live for many hundreds of years, are self-limbing
and resistant to insects and diseases. They were highly sought after for
masts for sailing ships as they were sound, hard and straight. Heavy
milling of kauri in New Zealand have lead to the protection of this mighty tree
and few stands of original timber remain today.
Kotuku - White
heron. A rarely seen but highly spectacular bird that visits New Zealand
shorelines. A rare visitor.
Koru - The koru is the stylized unfolding
of the fern frond and represents renewal or rejuvenation.
Maori Proverb - " He
whakatauaki" As with many cultures, the Maori have enriched their
culture with numerous proverbs regarding the sea, land, culture and people of
their native New Zealand.
Manaia -
thought to be the keepers or guardians of spiritual energy. The Manaia has
distinctive features such as a bird-like head, flowing (almost serpentine) body and is generally
pictured in a side view. In Maori carvings, the Manaia is often attached
to something else and is it's guardian.
Manaia Matau -
Matau means fish hook, a fish hook with a Manaia head incorporates the
protective and guardianship of the Manaia while fishing. Means good bounty
and good fishing.
Marae -
Maori meeting houses.
Matau - Maori
word for fish hook. Principally a symbol or symbolic representation of a
fish hook.
Nga Puhi -
One of the larger Maori tribes of the North Island of New Zealand.
Paua -
A shellfish that lives in the ocean surrounding New Zealand. Related to
the Northern Hemisphere abalone. Has a very distinctive and beautiful
shell that is iridescent blue, green and purple.
Pounamu -
Greenstone/ Jade.
Puriri Moth -
A large green moth that spends about 7 years as a caterpillar. It pupates into a
large bright green moth that lives for only 24 hours.
Roaring - ("the
roar") Breeding stags
create a bellowing noise during breeding season which can be heard for many
kilometers - the noise as well as the season in which it occurs is often
referred to as "the roar".
Tuatara - sphenodon
punctatus. An ancient
relative of the dinosaur. Lives to be up to 100 years old. Is
revered by the Maori and is a protected species of New Zealand.
Velvet -
See also Nature's
Way New
deer antler annually grows from bud to
full antler in 120 days. At approximately 50 to 60 days, deer farmers
humanely harvest the antler which at this stage is a soft blood-enriched product
covered with a fine hair - called velvet. The "velvet" is
usually ground into a powder form and sold and exported for its medicinal and
restorative properties.
Wapiti
- North America elk
- Wapiti meaning "white tail" - imported to New Zealand for
breeding. The deer buttons from this animal are used by Pacific Carvers
for the carvings shown in this website.
Whakairo
- Maori word for
carver.
