Hei-tiki

Hinepare, a woman of the Ngāti Kahungunu tribe, wearing a hei-tiki
Hei-tiki; circa 18th century; nephrite and haliotis shell; height: 10.9 cm (41⁄4 in.); from New Zealand; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (USA)

The hei-tiki (Māori pronunciation: [hɛi ˈtiki], New Zealand English: /heɪˈtɪki/[1]) is an ornamental pendant of the Māori of New Zealand. Hei-tiki are usually made of pounamu (greenstone), and are considered a taonga (treasure) by Māori. They are commonly called tiki by New Zealanders, a term that originally refers to the first mortal. (The word hei in Māori can mean "to wear around the neck".)

Retailers sell tourist versions of hei-tiki throughout New Zealand—these can be made from jade, other types of stone, plastic, or other materials.

  1. ^ "hei-tiki". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2021-08-20.