NZ Indigenous Art.com... Aim: to give the true crafts people, carvers and weavers a place to sell their work without having to compromise their traditions, NZ Indigenous Art.com hope to help, even in a small way to keep these traditions alive and thriving.

The canoe was the principle mode of effective transport and therefore very important to the tribe. There were several types of canoes that were used weather it was sailing,surfing,rafting or warfare. This carving deals primarily with warfare or the Waka Taua or war canoe. War dates from the time of the separation of the primal parents, Rangi [the sky father] and Papatuanuku . It is said that the children of Rangi and Papa argued amongst themselves and the god of the elements Tawhirimatea turned on his brothers.He vanquished all except the god of war Tumatauenga which is why mankind still suffers from the effects of the elements and war. The tauihu has as it's figurehead Tangaroa [god of the sea] and the large spirals on the center peice represent the ocean currents that our old people used to travel the Pacific ocean. The huaki or figure facing backward represents a tribal god who watched over the crew on the journey. All the other small figures and spirals represent the eddys that one encounters throughout one's journey and the guardians that protects oneself. Life indeed can be a journey of monumental proportions and one sometimes discovers that at some stage in your life you will need assistance in your travels. hei konei ra. This is an original work of art.