The Hei Matau is a bone or stone carved in the shape of a stylized hook, characteristic of the Maori people in New Zealand.
Much of Maori mythology is based on the sea; they crossed the Pacific Ocean in canoes to find New Zealand, fishing to survive these long and perilous journeys.
The legend says that the North Island in New Zealand was a huge fish that was caught by the great sailor Maui using only a woven line and a hook made from his grandmother's jawbone.
For the Maori, the Hei Matau is a cultural treasure, representing not only their land but also prosperity, fertility, and safe passage over water.
