Hei matau

A hei matau is a bone or greenstone carving in the shape of a highly stylised fish hook.

[1] The fish-hook shape of the hei matau means to know, which holds that the North Island of New Zealand was once a huge fish that was caught by the great mariner Māui using only a woven line and a hook made from the jawbone of his grandmother.

[2] Legend holds that the shape of Hawkes Bay is that of the hei matau, which caught in the fish's side on the beach.

Traditionally, matau, or fishhooks, were carved from bone, ivory, shell, wood, or pounamu; composite hooks were also common.

Manufacturers in China mass-produce items resembling hei matau for sale on the New Zealand tourist market.