Kīwi

Cultural Significance & Terminology

• Korowai (Cloak): The garment the kiwi is wearing is a stylized version of a Māori cloak. Traditionally, these are prestigious heirlooms (taonga) woven from New Zealand flax (harakeke) and often decorated with feathers or tassels.

• Taniko (Patterns): The geometric designs featured on the borders of the cloak are called Tāniko. This is a traditional Māori weaving technique used to create intricate patterns that often carry specific meanings related to genealogy, nature, or tribal history.

• Hei Tiki (Pendant): The kiwi is wearing a Hei Tiki around its neck. It is a protective talisman traditionally carved from Pounamu (greenstone/nephrite jade), representing a human figure and symbolizing fertility, luck, and the connection between ancestors and the living.