Wakahuia

A Wakahuia is a traditional Māori carved wooden container used to hold and protect important personal and ancestral treasures, such as hei-tiki or other taonga (treasured items). Typically oval and polished, it often features intricate carvings representing whakapapa (family history). The Wakahuia is both a practical storage box and a symbol of mana (authority and respect), reflecting the wearer’s status and cultural identity. It is usually worn as a pounamu (greenstone) pendant or carried during ceremonies, serving as a link to ancestors and cultural heritage.