Nga Tihi Maunga - Mountain Peaks

Dear friend, Kia Ora

This carving is named Nga Tihi Maunga which means Mountain Peaks.

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. In fact, 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.

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

This Taonga is a blend of pounamu and bone with a brass inlay connecting the two together. Pounamu is strongly associated to the habitat of the kea so is a fitting association. This specific stone is from the Arahura river. The eye of the kea is made from Douglas Creek pounamu.

The three main koru signify the unfolding of new life, new beginnings and new opportunities. The wings are reminiscent of flames. This is a nod towards the underwings of the kea with striking orange-red bloomage with black and yellow striped primary feathers. At another level flames symbolise the regeneration of the spirit.