Aotea Wheku

Description

Aotea Stone is a very rare blend of Kynite, Fushite and Quartz. It is found in one area in South Westland, South Island, New Zealand. A stone highly prized by Maori and is now protected it has a blue to turquois tone in colour, it can be translucent or opaque depending on how well the crystals are blended. It is not extremely hard as far as semi-precious and precious stones go but good specimens have a tight matrix and can be easily carved even to the point of adding fine details.
This Toki is adorned with Wheku who is an ancestor or guardian. They protect, guide and bring good luck to those whom they are assigned to. They come in many different forms depending on the region and whanau living there. They can be very provocative often showing their tongue and baring their teeth in a fierce grin, their brow ridge can be sloped in a downwards frown or raised high, eyes wide open in defiance as if to say “approach but beware, have respect for my presence is also here”.
In the world of Maori the Toki or adze was functional as well as symbolic, in that it represents strength, ingenuity, perseverance and achievement.