Rōnaki - gliding easily

Dear friend, Kia Ora

Here is something a bit different. This carving is named Rōnaki which means gliding easily.

The basis of this taonga is inspired by the world’s only mountain parrot, the kea. Found throughout the rugged mountains of the South Island, the kea is fiercely intelligent. Kea are one of the most intelligent birds in the world. If you stop for a coffee at Authers Pass, be careful, as the local kea have been known to get one of their flock to distract you, so others can slip in unnoticed and make off with whatever their cheeky eyes find interesting.

This bone Taonga has a buffalo horn eye. The horn is strongly associated with strength and leadership. The kea is depicted as gliding. Therefore, it is a symbol of grace.

Kea are currently an endangered species. As such, I will donate 10% of each sale belonging to the kea design series of carvings to the Kea Conservation Trust.