Hei tiki (pendant in human form)

This female hei tiki belonged to Huhana Hunt otherwise known as Guide Susan. Huhana acted as a guide to tourists visiting thermal attractions in the Rotorua district.

Of imressive size and detail, this hei tiki is representative of the less common variety of hei tiki referred to as Type B by H.G. Robley in 1915 and as Type 2 by K.A. Webster in 1948.

This variety of hei tiki has a smaller head angled to one side, an extended neck, a hunched shoulder, and one hand raised to the chest.

Note the red sealing wax in the eyes, the forked tongue extending from the mouth, and the ear, chin, and elbow projections.

The pounamu (nephrite) is of the inanga variety sourced from the Arahura River, Westland.

Interestingly the suspension hole has no wear and still contains original ‘mud’ formed when the hole was drilled.

This hei tiki comes from the Alexander Turnbull Collection gifted to the museum in 1913.