Hine Ahu One

In Maori mythology, Hine Ahu One was the first human as well as the first woman crated. Her name means Woman Of The Sands. Towards the beginning of time, when only the immortal gods and the spirits of nature existed, it was decided amongst the gods that a quest should be undertaken to find the spirit of woman. Tane Mahatu, god of the forest and divider of the earth and heavens, was choosen to go. Before he began, he approached his mother Papatuanaku - Earth Mother, and asked her for advice. She told Tane to go and lay down with each of the feminine elements until he found one that would produce a human. Tane did as he was told and many beings were created, all of the trees and rocks and animals, but the spirit of woman remained hidden. He returned to the gods unsuccessful and was told taht only on the place called Kurawaka, where elements of virginity and fertility dwelt, could he reach his goal. When Tane finally came to this place he knelt down to his mother the Earth and from her flesh, the sand, he moulded a beautiful woman. Each of the gods gave their attributes to parts of her body and when they were done, Io the highest god, gave his 'Hau', a breath of pure lifeforce. This breath was carried by Rehua, the guardian, to Tane who brathed it into Hine Ahu One and thus was woman born. Hine danced for joy at her birth onto her new home between the earth and sky. Hine Ahu One and Tane Mahuta became the ancestors of the human race and all geneologies lead back to them.

Timber is Macrocarpa weighing approximately 2-3 tons.

Carved by Sebastian Bernhart.