Author(s): Dougal Austin

Maori | Aotearoa | Craft

Of all Maori personal adornments, the human figure pendants known as hei tiki are the most highly prized and culturally iconic. This book showcases photographs of a large selection of hei tiki, most from the taonga Māori collection at Te Papa. The collection of over 270 hei tiki is the largest in New Zealand and very likely the world.

Review: Selected as one of the Best Books of the Year by a panel of NZ Listener reviewers: 'A welcome, some would say long-overdue, insight into the history, mystery, meaning and manufacture of the varied forms and features of our most ubiquitous Maori motif by Te Papa curator Dougal Austin, supported by a stunning gallery of photographed hei tiki.'; 'This well-researched and well-written book discussed their value and status as taonga; their use and meaning; their various types and shapes; and their rich history ... adds a brilliant series of photographs showing the making of a hei tiki by hand ...' - Art News; 'Lavishly illustrated, with many of the hei tiki pictured in larger-than-life-size, full-page glory, the book has some claim to being described as a taonga in its own right.' - North & South.

Contents: He kupu whakataki Introduction 9 01/ Nga whakamaramatanga Use and meaning 15 02/ Nga momo me nga ahua Types and shapes 27 03/ Te putakenga mai Physical origins 49 04/ Nga korero kairangi Exalted histories 93 05/ Nga tohu a-iwi Tribal styles 117 06/ Nga tai whakaawe External versus local influence 139 07/ Ka whiti ka pumau, 1750-1900 Change and continuity, 1750-1900 153 08/ Te whanako toi taketake, nga tau 1890-inaianei Cultural appropriation, 1890s-present 185 09/ Te hei tiki me te Maori, 1900-inaianei Maori and hei tiki, 1900-present 199 He kupu whakakapi Epilogue 258 Appendices, Notes, Glossary, Select bibliography, Image credits, Acknowledgements, Index 263

Prizes: Commended for AAANZ Book Prizes - Best Art Writing by a NZ Maori or Pasifika 2019.

Author Biography: Dougal Austin (Kati Mamoe, Kai Tahu, Waitaha) is Senior Curator Matauranga Maori at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. He has a particular research interest in the origins, development, cultural use and significance of hei tiki. His current work has included a tour of the Kura Pounamu exhibition in China.