A popular Maori necklace design is the hei toki, which carries a spiritual meaning.  That's important to know if you are planning to purchase a toki.  

The spiritual meaning of a hei toki necklace is power, authority and wisdom.  This relates back to the importance of the toki in everyday life.  

The Maori toki is known in English as an adze, and that is exactly what it was used for.  The toki was used to carve Maori canoes, pallisades, decorative wooden carvings, and buildings.  The blade was usually made from greenstone or stone, and the handle from wood, although there have been accounts of human bone used for the handle.  The handle varied in its shape, depending on what it had been carved to do - heavy work (straight handle), general purpose, hollowing out, and chipping toki all had differently shaped handles.

The blade was lashed to the handle, usually with muka (flax fibre) made into a rope, or the stems of climbing plants.  The toki could not be left out in the sun, lest the fibres loosened, but would be put into water the night before its intended use, so the fibres would swell.

The tool was essential to the well-being of the tribe, so was generally well looked after.  Just making one took great time and effort, but was essential in the building of whare and canoe.

Those toki carved with ornate handles are called toki pou tangata, and are largely ceremonial.  The carving is often of a human figure. A speaker on the marae might swing their toki pou tangata to make a point in their oratory, just as tokotoki, taiaha, tewhatewha and patu were used for the same purpose.  Generally, only those high up in the Maori social heirarchy could use the toki pou tangata.

As mentioned, the toki is a symbol of power, authority and wisdom, which relates back to the importance of the implement and the craftsperson wielding it.  Maori held all greenstone in high esteem, and anyone wielding a toki pou tangata with greenstone blade on the marae was someone to be listened to and respected.  

Some Maori would believed to carry their toki blade with them as they moved around the country, as some blades have been found with a hole through the top end.  A hole was not used in place of lashing, so it is believed to have been done so the blade could be worn around the neck.  Smaller toki blades were worn as hei toki (necklaces) or as earrings.

Today, hei toki are a very popular necklace, due to the mana and prestige in their spiritual meaning.  These days it may also be gifted to recognise someone who has shown bravery, perseverance and dedication, so it is perfect for someone graduating, or someone who has done something special.

Hei Toki are available in greenstone (pounamu) and bone, and there are some toki earrings too.  Some are plain toki, others are intricately carved.  All are beautiful.

A popular Maori necklace design is the hei toki, which carries a spiritual meaning.  That's important to know if you are planning to purchase a toki.  

The spiritual meaning of a hei toki necklace is power, authority and wisdom.  This relates back to the importance of the toki in everyday life.  

The Maori toki is known in English as an adze, and that is exactly what it was used for.  The toki was used to carve Maori canoes, pallisades, decorative wooden carvings, and buildings.  The blade was usually made from greenstone or stone, and the handle from wood, although there have been accounts of human bone used for the handle.  The handle varied in its shape, depending on what it had been carved to do - heavy work (straight handle), general purpose, hollowing out, and chipping toki all had differently shaped handles.

The blade was lashed to the handle, usually with muka (flax fibre) made into a rope, or the stems of climbing plants.  The toki could not be left out in the sun, lest the fibres loosened, but would be put into water the night before its intended use, so the fibres would swell.

The tool was essential to the well-being of the tribe, so was generally well looked after.  Just making one took great time and effort, but was essential in the building of whare and canoe.

Those toki carved with ornate handles are called toki pou tangata, and are largely ceremonial.  The carving is often of a human figure. A speaker on the marae might swing their toki pou tangata to make a point in their oratory, just as tokotoki, taiaha, tewhatewha and patu were used for the same purpose.  Generally, only those high up in the Maori social heirarchy could use the toki pou tangata.

As mentioned, the toki is a symbol of power, authority and wisdom, which relates back to the importance of the implement and the craftsperson wielding it.  Maori held all greenstone in high esteem, and anyone wielding a toki pou tangata with greenstone blade on the marae was someone to be listened to and respected.  

Some Maori would believed to carry their toki blade with them as they moved around the country, as some blades have been found with a hole through the top end.  A hole was not used in place of lashing, so it is believed to have been done so the blade could be worn around the neck.  Smaller toki blades were worn as hei toki (necklaces) or as earrings.

Today, hei toki are a very popular necklace, due to the mana and prestige in their spiritual meaning.  These days it may also be gifted to recognise someone who has shown bravery, perseverance and dedication, so it is perfect for someone graduating, or someone who has done something special.

Hei Toki are available in greenstone (pounamu) and bone, and there are some toki earrings too.  Some are plain toki, others are intricately carved.  All are beautiful.