Southern Alps Pendant
14ct Gold
Net Gold: 3.42g.
This pendant is named after the Southern Alps, the highest and largest mountain range in New Zealand and covers the whole South Island.
The Maori name for the Southern Alps is Ka Tiritiri-o-te-Moana. According to Māori pūrākau the mountain range was formed when Raki, the sky father, married Papatuanuku, the earth mother and his children came down to greet their father’s new wife. Four of his sons, Ao-raki (Cloud in the Sky), Raki-ora (Long Raki, Mount Dampier), Raki-rua (Raki the Second, Mount Teichelmann), and Raraki-roa (Long Unbroken Line, Mt Tasman)
They came down in a canoe which was known as Te Waka o Aoraki. They cruised around the vast ocean looking for Papa-tua-nuku, but could not find land. They decided to return to their celestial home, but the karakia (incantation) which should have lifted the waka (canoe) back to the heavens failed and the waka fell back into the sea and turned over onto its side, turning to stone and earth in the process.
The waka listed and settled with the west side much higher out of the water than the east. Thus the whole waka formed the South Island, hence the name Te Waka o Aoraki. Aoraki and his brothers clambered onto the high side and were turned to stone. They are still there today.
*The pendant comes with a complementary sterling silver gold-plated chain that is not made from our local gold.
Choose your ring size, if it's not listed above please contact us: hello@madeofgold.co.nz
After you have submitted your order, it will take 1-3 weeks for your piece to be made.
We want to make choosing a meaningful gift for yourself or a loved one as easy as possible. That’s why if your gift isn’t quite right, or you need to return an item to us, we’ll cover the cost of return shipping within New Zealand.
