Rongo - Tuakana

Choosing Your Taonga
Each of our koikoi is individually numbered — no two are ever the same. We believe it is not just you who chooses the taonga — the taonga chooses you.

About our Tuakana rākau
The Tuakana koikoi is created for whānau aged 10 years and above. At 135cm, it represents the next progression after the Teina, carrying greater length and presence to challenge coordination, discipline and confidence.

Features
Wood type: Tawhai
Length: 135cm x 25mm diameter
Binding: White semi-waxed cord
Feathers: Light Blue Schlappen and White Marabou Strung Feathers 
Finish: Beeswax natural finish

Who is Rongo?
Rongo is the atua of peace, agriculture, and cultivation. Gentle and benevolent, he is linked with prosperity, growth, and the well-being of people. Often shown with a wooden staff or hoe, Rongo symbolises the nurturing of life and the balance needed to help it flourish.

Significance for Tuakana
The Tuakana embodies the role of the cultivator. Just as Rongo is often portrayed with the hoe or staff, nurturing the land to sustain his people, this taonga symbolises responsibility and guidance. It is for those beginning to shoulder more — teaching, supporting, and protecting others as they mature in their practice.

What is a koikoi?
Traditionally, the koikoi was a long spear sharpened on both ends, used with a two-handed grip to strike and parry.

At Tekotiri, each koikoi carries its own mauri, reminding us that every journey is unique. More than rākau, they are pathways of connection, guiding whānau back to their whakapapa and forward into their own journey. 

Continue the journey
Explore our guided mau rākau tutorials with Caleb and Jackie Kutia on YouTube, and walk further with us in this kaupapa.

Ngā mihi nui,
Caleb & Jackie Kutia
Founders of Tekotiri Limited