Gifts for Men

Handcrafted by expert carvers and made from high grade Canadian Jade. This design represents the Toki or Adze, and has a spiritual meaning associated with strength (mana). Before they became ornamental they were an everyday tool used in cutting and digging. Traditionally they were used to carve the great canoes and also to cut and work timber for the fortresses or Pahs in which the Maori lived. It was such an important tool in Maori life that it became regarded as a symbol of power, authority and good character and therefore was later used as an adornment of powerful Maori chiefs during religious ceremonies. Today when worn around the neck, the toki is said to represent strength because of this association with the tribal chief.