Hei-Tiki

Relic

Lore

A nephrite pendant carved in human form that enhances the wearer’s mana and magic.

Hei-tiki is a sacred Māori pendant, classed as a relic endowed with its own prestige (mana) and life force (mauri). The name itself spells out its purpose: hei means “something worn at the neck,” while tiki refers to the first mortal being, the ancestor from whom all humans descend. Wearing a hei-tiki therefore forges an unbroken bond between the owner, all forebears, and the very progenitor of humankind; it is not jewelry but a physical vessel of whakapapa—the family line. Authentic pieces are carved almost exclusively from pounamu, the revered green nephrite whose mauri amplifies the pendant’s mana.

The figure is stylized: an oversized head tilted to one side, hands with three fingers pressed to the hips, knees bent, feet touching. The pose evokes a fetus, underscoring themes of origin and the continuity of life. The enlarged eyes—traditionally inlaid with pāua shell—mark the tiki as a guardian constantly watching over the wearer’s well-being.

From Oceanian Bestiary 5E, p. 103 · Fern Flower Press