Waka Hoe: Ngā tai ki te rēinga

This striking contemporary waka hoe is a powerful celebration of movement, connection, and whakapapa. Flowing unaunahi carve their way across the surface in a continuous rolling rhythm, evoking waves colliding at Te Rerenga Wairua, where the two seas meet. Each finely cut line carries a fish scale, while every haehae reflects the energy of ocean currents and breaking waves.

The sides are intricately carved in distinct patterns that honour Te Ao Wairua, Taha Tāne, and Taha Wāhine, bringing balance between the spiritual, masculine, and feminine realms.

At the heart of the piece, a bold central spiral symbolizes the meeting of Te Moana-a-Rehua and Te Tai-o-Whitirea—the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean—personified as Rehua (male) and Whitirea (female). Their union speaks to harmony, duality, and the power created when forces come together.

Crowning the hoe is the beak of the pīwakawaka (fantail), a guardian symbol of Te Rerenga Wairua, representing guidance, transition, and the journey between worlds.

This waka hoe is more than an object—it is a story carved in motion, a statement piece rich in meaning, and a taonga that carries the spirit of the ocean and ancestors into any space.