Pounamu Toki (Adze) necklace

The Pounamu Toki is a traditional Māori tool and symbol made from pounamu (greenstone or jade). In Māori culture, it represents both practical utility and spiritual significance, embodying ideas of strength, authority, and leadership.

Origins and Use of the Toki:
Historically, the Toki was a type of adze or axe, used for chopping and carving wood. Before metal tools were introduced, Māori people relied on tools made from pounamu due to its durability and sharpness. Toki Pounamu (greenstone adze) were prized for their ability to cut through wood and were used in the construction of canoes (waka), houses, and other important structures.
Pounamu, sourced from the rivers of the South Island (Te Wai Pounamu), was difficult to obtain and work with, making the toki a highly valuable object. Only skilled carvers were able to craft toki from pounamu, adding to its prestige. The Toki became a symbol of authority, worn by leaders and chiefs (rangatira) to represent their mana (spiritual power), skill, and wisdom.
Modern Pounamu Toki:
In contemporary times, the Toki is no longer used as a practical tool, but it has evolved into a revered symbol. Today, toki are commonly worn as pendants, representing attributes associated with leadership, courage, and resilience.
Symbolic Meaning of Pounamu Toki:
Strength and Power: Traditionally, the Toki was a tool of physical strength. When worn as a pendant, it represents personal power, authority, and the ability to overcome challenges.
Leadership: Since toki were often worn by chiefs or important individuals, the pendant symbolizes leadership, wisdom, and guidance. It is believed to empower the wearer with the qualities necessary to lead others with honor and integrity.
Protection: Like other pounamu, the toki is thought to provide protection to its wearer. The spiritual energy of the stone, combined with the significance of the tool, is believed to ward off harm and bring strength in difficult times.
Connection to Ancestors and Land: Pounamu is considered a Taonga (treasure) with ancestral links. Wearing a Pounamu Toki connects the individual to their whakapapa (ancestral lineage) and to the land of New Zealand, particularly the South Island, where much of the pounamu is found.
Resilience and Endurance: The Toki’s traditional use as a robust, enduring tool symbolizes the wearer’s ability to face adversity with patience and tenacity. It is a reminder of the importance of perseverance in the face of life’s challenges.
Modern Gift and Heirloom:
The Pounamu Toki is often given as a gift to symbolize respect and admiration. When gifted, it can represent the passing on of responsibility, leadership, or the recognition of someone’s personal strength. In Māori culture, pounamu objects, including the Toki, are considered heirlooms that carry the spirit and mana of those who wore or used them before, making them deeply personal and sacred items.
Summary:
The Pounamu Toki carries immense cultural and spiritual significance in Māori tradition. Originally a powerful tool for carving and construction, it has evolved into a symbol of leadership, strength, and resilience. Whether worn as a talisman of protection or as a mark of authority, the toki continues to hold great respect and meaning within both Māori culture and New Zealand society as a whole.
Measurements:   Length 60 mm plus 30 mm width
Packaging:  Come in white leather bound box with white inner pad.
Laser etching: Pounamu has the feather pattern.
Cord: wax cord adjustable to fit the wearer.
Blessing: Carver has blessed this Pounamu Toki - Addie Wainohu