The pendant is the Tuna / eel. It is 56mm high and 49 at its widest.
It is carved from pounamu we have collected from the Marsden Valley in the Paroa area just outside of Greymouth on the West Coast of the South Island. It is the 'Marsden Flower Jade' and is called this because of the unique golden colours (the flower) in the stone found in the Marsden area.
The Tuna Pendant has an extremely strong, waxed nylon cord so the pendant can be worn ALL the time - even in any kind of water. It is a special, round, hand platted, 4-plait cord. The cord is adjustable by pinching the special knots between your thumb and finger and pulling.
The Tuna has the traditional ridge knot binding along the top of the pendant. This was one of the bindings used by the Maori to attach the Pounamu to wooden and bone handles to use as tools and weapons.
For Maori the Tuna / eel is a Taonga, an important cultural treasure. It represents youth, new beginnings and is revered as a link to the gods.