Hei Tiki [Air New Zealand]
Maker and role
Air New Zealand Limited, Attributed to
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2013.346
Maker
Description
Plastic Tiki and Information pamphlet in small ziploc bag.
Green plastic Hei Tiki with red eyes and "Air New Zealand" in raised gold writing on the reverse.
Blue and white paper pamphlet.Written inside the pamphlet, 'NEW ZEALAND TIKI / This is a talisman of New Zealand and her Maori people. Though its origin lies deep in the past, it has become New Zealand's symbol of good luck. The most treasured tikis were made of rare jade - like greenstone carved with care by skilled Maori craftsmen. The tiki was usually worn as a neck pendant and acquired a ritual veneration. Its history was handed down in chanted song from generation to generation and its "power" increased with age. AIR NEW ZEALAND hopes this tiki will bring you good fortune and be a memento of New Zealand, the Wonderland of the South Pacific.'
Green plastic Hei Tiki with red eyes and "Air New Zealand" in raised gold writing on the reverse.
Blue and white paper pamphlet.Written inside the pamphlet, 'NEW ZEALAND TIKI / This is a talisman of New Zealand and her Maori people. Though its origin lies deep in the past, it has become New Zealand's symbol of good luck. The most treasured tikis were made of rare jade - like greenstone carved with care by skilled Maori craftsmen. The tiki was usually worn as a neck pendant and acquired a ritual veneration. Its history was handed down in chanted song from generation to generation and its "power" increased with age. AIR NEW ZEALAND hopes this tiki will bring you good fortune and be a memento of New Zealand, the Wonderland of the South Pacific.'
Marks
AIR NEW ZEALAND Printed
NEW ZEALAND TIKI / This is a talisman of New Zealand and her Maori people. Though its origin lies deep in the past, it has become New Zealand's symbol of good luck. The most treasured tikis were made of rare jade - like greenstone carved with care by skilled Maori craftsmen. The tiki was usually worn as a neck pendant and acquired a ritual veneration. Its history was handed down in chanted song from generation to generation and its "power" increased with age. AIR NEW ZEALAND hopes this tiki will bring you good fortune and be a memento of New Zealand, the Wonderland of the South Pacific. Printed
NEW ZEALAND TIKI / This is a talisman of New Zealand and her Maori people. Though its origin lies deep in the past, it has become New Zealand's symbol of good luck. The most treasured tikis were made of rare jade - like greenstone carved with care by skilled Maori craftsmen. The tiki was usually worn as a neck pendant and acquired a ritual veneration. Its history was handed down in chanted song from generation to generation and its "power" increased with age. AIR NEW ZEALAND hopes this tiki will bring you good fortune and be a memento of New Zealand, the Wonderland of the South Pacific. Printed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Air New Zealand Limited. Hei Tiki [Air New Zealand], 2013.346. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Public comments
Kia ora Rob, thank you for your comment. This was a practice continued by Air New Zealand after being started by Tasman Empire Airways Limited in the 1950s. Attribution information to an individual was not found, but this plastic tiki is referenced in Dougal Austin's chapter on cultural appropriation in the book Te Hei Tiki. We will follow up in email with more detail.
- MOTAT Curatorial Research posted 2 years ago.
Curious about who designed the famous plastic Tiki?
- Rob Carter posted 2 years ago.