KiwiArtz - New Zealand Arts & Crafts online




			AOTEAROA Aotearoa or 'Land of the long white cloud' was the name given by the legendary navigator Kupe to the islands that loomed ahead of him and his companions following their journey across the Pacific from Raiatea near Tahiti. in the 10th century AD. As they sailed closer, the clouds that gathered over Aotearoa stretched left and right as far as the eye could see. New Zealand is still known to Maori as Aotearoa and indeed many New Zealanders prefer to refer to the land as Aotearoa New Zealand. Shown on this map of Aotearoa is Auckland, where KiwiArtz is based.

			BEEHIVE This meaning of the beehive has nothing to do with bees. Rather it refers to the seat of Aotearoa New Zealand's Executive Government. The building, in the shape of a beehive, was opened in 1978. The design was considered very forward thinking at the time.

			BLUE-NOSED DOLPHIN A dolphin common to New Zealand waters.

			BUZZY-BEE An intriguing concoction of buzzing sound, quivering antennae, spinning wings and basic bold colours, this delightful pull-along toy has been purchased by hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders since it was first invented by Hec Ramsey in the mid 1940's.

			DUSKY DOLPHIN Common dolphin to NZ waters, often seen playing with tourist boats in Marlborough and Milford Sounds.

			DOUBLE TWIST >> click here

			FANTAIL Known to Maori as Piwakawaka fantails are attractive and seemingly friendly native birds as they dart about near human activity in pursuit of disturbed insects. Maori regard them as being an omen of death.

			FERN The Fern, and especially the Silver Fern, has become a national symbol for New Zealand. Many of our sports teams wear the design proudly. The Maori "koru" design draws from the young fern koru, as it stretches and develops into the new fern leaf.

			FLAX Over 50 varieties of Phormium tenax, or Harakeke as they knew it, were known to Maori. A common plant of the coast and road side in New Zealand it was used extensively for mats, containers, shoes and shelters, ropes, nets and even sweeteners of food. It has long strap-like leaves that can grow up to 3 metres tall and flowering panicles that can be considerably taller.The orange-red flowers are pollinated by birds and develop develop into erect seed pods. Other smaller varieties of flax are also found.

			FIGURE EIGHT >> click here

			GECKO A New Zealand lizard of whch there are many varieties. Shown here is a Jewelled Gecko (top), and below is the Black-eyed Gecko.

			GORGE HOOK >> click here

			HAKA - Dance >> see more te reo maori

			HOKEY POKEY ICE CREAM New Zealand's classic ice cream is essentially a vanilla ice cream, with chunks of 'Hokey Pokey' in it. Hokey Pokey is a crunchy toffee made by melting sugar & NZ's golden syrup together, and then adding Edmond's baking soda to make the whole thing explode into a big frothing mass. When it cools and calms down you have a crunchy toffee that can be eaten alone or with ice cream.

			HEI-MATAU or FISH HOOK >> click here

			HEI-TIKI The Hei tiki is traditional to Maori and is worn as a pendant. It has high spiritual significance and is worn in remembrance of passed ancestors (tipuna) where the tiki is often regarded as holding the power (mana) of the previous owners. >> click here to view other designs

			JANDALS Thongs are known to New Zealanders as Jandals or flip-flops. Jandals is the trade name given to the first version sold in NZ of this casual but popular summer footware.

			KAKA The New Zealand brown or bush parrot.

			KAKAPO The Kakapo is a New Zealand, green, flightless Parrot.

			KATIPO SPIDER The Katipo is New Zealand's only poisonous spider. It dwells in sand-dunes and has a distinctive red stripe down it's back. It isn't now commonly seen.

			KAUMATUA - Elder of a whanau or extended family >> see more te reo maori

			KAURI TREE The Kauri is one of the world's largest forest trees and is unique to this country. Once covering large areas of the north it was milled extensively for its prized hardwood in the early years of European settlement. Only a one and a half hundred hectares of the original Kauri forests now remain. Because it is very slow growing its wood is incredibly dense and hard. Maori people of standing in their communities are likened to the majesty and grandeur of the Kauri tree.

			KAURI GUM The resin of the Kauri tree. This once supplied a livelhood to thousands of gumdiggers as it was gathered and sold for the manufacture of high quality paints and varnishes. Now rarely seen we used to have great fun as kids melting down chunks of Kauri resin into silk like strands.

			KAURI SNAIL A great big carnivorous land snail, Paryphanta busbyi or Pupu Rangi, this one about 50 mm across. They are known to eat worms and other small invertebrates and are often associated with kauri trees..

			KEA The Kea is a New Zealand, alpine Parrot, known for it's inquisitive, cheeky behaviour -- especially from the teenage males.

			KELP Kelp is found all over the coasts of New Zealand, but is particularly prominent on the beaches of the South Island.

			KERERU A large, handsome berry-eating New Zealand native pigeon. As a tree top dweller it is reasonably safe from predators and has even adapted well to living near human settlement.

			KETE A kit or bag woven from the fresh leaves of the flax plant, which are then left to dry. A traditional Maori craft, kete can be made with intricate, decorative patterns and colours for special occasions, or sturdier plain ones for everday household use.

			KINA Kina is the Maori name for what are commonly known as sea-urchin. They populate the shallower waters of the New Zealand coast lune and have been an important food source for Maori.

			KIWI As in the stylised bird used in our logo. The kiwi is a rare flightless bird found only in New Zealand. Unfortunately it has been easy prey for predators and is now found mainly in protected areas. New Zealanders proudly identify themselves as Kiwi.

			KIWI - The New Zealander Just to save confusion, the human kiwi is entered here. And is not to be confused with a small brown fluffy bird, or a small, brown, fluffy fruit.

			KIWIFRUIT The kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is a green fleshed brown fluffy skinned fruit which grows on a vine. It was first planted in New Zealand in 1906 and since then has burgeoned into a thriving horticultural export. In 1974 Kiwifruit became its internationally accepted name, replacing its previous names of Chinese Gooseberry and kiwi berry.

			KOKAKO The Kokako is a New Zealand wattlebird, with distinctive, blue wattles and a beautiful song.

			KORU The fern frond represents life, new beginnings, life unfolding. The stylization of the Koru in its many forms represents the spirit of rejuvenation. >> to view full explanation of various koru designs used, please go here

			KORU HOOK >> click here

			KOWHAI Found throughout New Zealand the Kowhai is noted for its glorious yellow flowers which hang in panicles in springtime. Many New Zealanders regard them as our national flower.

			LEMON & PAEROA A favourite New Zealand soft drink (fizzy drink). The beverage originates from a small town in the North Island called Paeroa.


			MANUKA A native New Zealand hardwood tree.

			MANUKA BEETLE As its name suggests, this little beetle, Pyronota festiva, about 10mm long, feeds on manuka, which contains a strong oil, so it must be tough! The Maori called it kerewai or reporepowai from its habit of getting stuck in muddy stream banks (repo = mud, wai = water). It's a member of the Scarab family of beetles, and its larger relative, the green cockchafer, can be heard buzzing around wildly on summer evenings.

			MARAE - Meeting place >> see more te reo maori

			MAORI Maori are the people who inhabited Aotearoa (New Zealand) before European colonisation. Te reo Maori - the language

			MOKO Traditional Maori tattooing.

			MOKOPUNA - Grandchildren >> see more te reo maori

			MUSSELS Common Mussel, White's Beach Perna canaliculus, or kuku. The most common species of mussel around the North Island.

			NIKAU PALM The Nikau is a palm tree native to New Zealand found as far south as Banks Peninsular, Greymouth and the Chatham Islands. It has the distinction of being the most southern naturally growing palm in the world.

			PAUA This shellfish is a species of abalone (Haliotis iris). Found only in the seas around New Zealand, this marine mollusc eats seaweed and clings to rocks at depths of 1-10 meters, along the shoreline. Paua shell is the most colourful of all the abalone.

			POHUTUKAWA Pohutukawa grow best close to the sea where they often produce massive spreading trees that overhang the water. When in flower during December and January they provide a brilliant spectacle, smothered as they are with masses of crimson to brilliant-red flowers. We know them affectionately as the New Zealand Christmas tree.

			POUNAMU Pounamu is the Maori term for Nephrite (jade) and Bowenite (serpentine). The New Zealand variety is found only at Te Waipounamu (the waters of greenstone) which is the South Island. Colours vary considerably Pounamu was and is highly valued by Maori for its beauty and spiritual quality. Traditionally it was shaped into ornaments, weapons and tools which over time acquired status as taonga or treasured possessions.

			PUKEKO The Pukeko is also known as the Purple Swamp Hen and is a member of the rail family. They are not really purple at all but a deep glossy indigo blue. The back and wings are black with a greenish sheen and the under tail coverts are snowy white. The large red bill and orange oversized legs and feet complete this comical bird which artists delight in reproducing.

			PURIRI MOTH A large and colourfully mottled native moth.

			RANGITOTO Rangitoto Island is regarded as the gateway to Auckland. It is a prominent cone, seemingly symmetrical from all viewpoints, and is visible from most parts of the gulf. It erupted from the sea 800 years ago and is one of the newest islands in the Hauraki Gulf..

			RANGITIRA - Chief of hapu (section of an iwi grouping) >> see more te reo maori

			TAKAHE This attractive high-country bird had its habitat threatened by imported red deer which competed wth them for food. It is now on the endangered species list and is being settled on predator free off-shore islands as part of a recovery programme.

			TANIWHA A dragon-like creature in Maori mythology.

			TAPU - Sacred TE REO MAORI - The Maori Language TIKANGA - Customs >> see more te reo maori TIKI >> refer hei-tiki THONGS >> refer jandals

			TOTARA A native hardwood tree of New Zealand.

			TREATY OF WAITANGI The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840. It is an agreement between the British Crown and Maori. It has always retained its importance as the founding document of Aotearoa and is very significant in New Zealand's legal framework.

			TRIPLE TWIST >> click here

			TUATARA The tuatara is a prehistoric New Zealand lizard which has survived from before the dinasaur era, that is, for over 200 million years. They live up to 100 years. Their continued survival now depends on their re-location to predator free off-shore islands.

			TUI A striking New Zealand honey-eating bird, which is a bright metallic green with turquoise imaging radiating off its shoulders. The top of its tail and lower part of its chest are also a brilliant green. The Tui's neck is decorated with thread like plumes and it has a clump of white under its chin.

			TUPUNA - Ancestor >> see more te reo maori

			WAKA - Canoe >> see more te reo maori

			WEKA The Weka is a flighless bird but seems to have survived introduced predators because of it effective use of its strong beak and legs. It is cheeky and inquisitive and will visit tourist campsites for the purpose of removing shiny objects.

			WETA A primitive bush living large insect. It is harmless but regarded by people with fear when it gets into their homes at night.

			WHAKAPAPA - Geneology >> see more te reo maori

			YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN Known to Maori as Hoiho the yellow-eyed penguin is regarded as the world's rarest penguin. They are found mainly from Banks Peninsular south to Campbell and Auckland Islands. Unfortunately they are easy prey for predators and their numbers are declining.