Bone Pendant with Paua - Hei Matau

The meaning of the hei matau comes from the Māori legend of Maui, who used a fish hook made from his grandmother's jawbone to pull the North Island of New Zealand from the ocean. The Māori had a strong connection to Tangaroa, the god of the sea, and believed that wearing a fish hook over water would ensure safe passage as a sign of respect to Tangaroa.