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New Zealand is known around the world for its
verdant landscape, sparkling seawater, omnipotent mountains
and treasured forests.
Today, as in the days of the early
settlers, the landscape provides inspiration to New
Zealand artists and to those who visit. New Zealand's unique blend of Maori and
Pakeha culture has given rise to a fresh Pacific identity
that breathes vibrancy and can be found in many facets of
daily life including art.
The relative youth and isolation of the
nation in world terms has led to artists developing a
Pacific style seen nowhere else in the world. Papamahi
artisans have produced a wonderful array of products - each
accompanied by a swing tag that details the source of
inspiration as well as other interesting information.
Stories and legends are a vital part of many cultures and we
are excited to bring a few from deep in the Southern Hemisphere you. |
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moana (moh-ah-nah)
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The Maori people sailed
from Hawaiki across the Pacific Ocean to Aotearoa
(New Zealand). The ocean played a vital role as a
source of food as well as the main transportation
route.
The sea continues to play an extremely
important role in the lives of New Zealanders today
both in business and pleasure. New Zealand boasts
the 2nd largest harbor in the world and, with the
abundance of islands, has more coastline than the
United States. |
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tapa
(tah-pah)
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Tapa is made from the beaten bark of
the Paper Mulberry tree which is stripped from the
tree, hung in the sun to dry, and soaked in water
overnight before it is ready to be beaten. The bark
is beaten upon a long wooden anvil with a wooden
mallet of ironwood.
The patterns are made via a board
marked with traditional designs. These designs are
pressed onto cloth soaked in a dye made from the
trees and berries.
The designs are repeated in
horizontal bands for the entire length of the cloth,
and left in the sun to dry. The women finish
painting the traditional patterns using natural dyes
of different shades of black and brown.
Tapa is found in many South
Pacific islands including Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, as
well as New Zealand given that it has the world’s
largest Polynesian population. |
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paua
(pah-wah)
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Paua is a species of Abalone and
native to New Zealand. Just like it’s cousins in
North America, the Paua is sought after for both
it’s hearty meat and unique shell. The crusty dark outer of the shell
is contrasted markedly with the beautiful
kaleidoscope of color on the interior.
The color patterns are
one-of-a-kind as light is refracted through the
seawater into rainbows and naturally burned into the
shell. New Zealand’s clean and clear water combines
with an abundance of sunshine to create a beautiful
material for artisans.
The Paua is an excellent example
of total resource usage whereby the Maori not only
utilized Paua for food but also for sharp-edged
implements, food bowls, jewelry, carving adornments,
etc.
Today the people of New Zealand
are as enamored with Paua as they were two hundred
years ago. |
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