HEI TIKI PENDANT

The origins of the hei tiki are unfortunately lost to us, but they seem to run deep into Māori history. What the hei tiki represents is disputed, but it could be Tiki, the first man created by the god Tāne in Māori mythology. Others have posited that it represents Hineteiwaiwa, the spirit guardian of childbirth and looks like an embryo as a result. Either way, hei tiki were highly valued and often buried with their wearer. If they were to be passed on, a ritualistic cleansing needed to be performed on the pendant first.