The Hei Matau: Prosperity, Strength & Safe Passage Over Water
The hei matau, the pounamu fish hook, is one of the most iconic Māori designs, and among the most worn pieces of greenstone jewellery in New Zealand. Its hook shape recalls the matau (fishing hook) that was central to the survival and prosperity of Māori communities across Aotearoa, and wearing one carries a wealth of layered meaning: abundance, strength, safe journey, and a deep connection to the sea.
Maui, the great trickster demigod of Māori mythology, is said to have fished up the North Island of New Zealand using a magical hook. That story gives the matau a sacred dimension, it is not merely a tool, but an instrument of creation and transformation. (read more: History of Pounamu)
Origins: The Fish Hook as a Tool of Life
For Māori, a people whose settlement of Aotearoa and whose daily life depended on the sea, the fishing hook was a critical and carefully crafted object. Hooks were made from bone, wood, and stone, and their design was constantly refined for specific fish and conditions. A good hook meant food, survival, and community. A broken hook could mean hunger. The matau was therefore a practical tāonga as well as a symbolic one.
When carved in pounamu, the matau became something more permanent, a version of that life-giving tool that could be worn as a reminder of the sea’s abundance and the skill of those who worked it. Over generations, the symbolism deepened beyond practical fishing to encompass all forms of abundance and good fortune.
Meaning: Prosperity, Luck and Good Fortune
The hei matau is most commonly associated with prosperity and good luck, particularly the kind of abundance that comes from working hard and maintaining a respectful relationship with the natural world. It is a design that promises not just wealth but the means to earn it: the strength, skill, and good fortune to always have what you need. (read more: Benefits of Wearing Pounamu)
It is also associated with strength in a physical sense, the pulling power of the hook, the resistance it must have to bring in a large catch. Wearing a hei matau can carry the intention of building that kind of inner and outer strength.
Safe Travel Over Water
Perhaps the most widely known meaning of the hei matau today is safe travel over water. Māori were exceptional navigators, crossing vast stretches of open ocean in waka hourua (double-hulled voyaging canoes). A matau worn on such a journey was a spiritual assurance of safe passage, a connection to the abundance of the sea and a request for its protection.
This makes the hei matau an especially popular gift for people who travel frequently, live near the water, surf, sail, or have a deep connection to the ocean. Gifting a hei matau before a significant journey is a time-honoured tradition in New Zealand.
Hei Matau Variations
Several variations of the hei matau exist, each adding layers of meaning. The hei matau with koru combines the fish hook with the spiral of new life, creating a design that speaks to both abundance and growth. Some matau feature twisted or barbed elements, while others are clean and simple in form. Each variation is slightly different in its visual and symbolic emphasis. (read more: Hei Matau with Koru)
The basic hei matau remains the most classical form, elegant in its curve and direct in its meaning. It is one of the most immediately recognisable pounamu designs and one of the most gifted. (read more: The Koru)
Pounamu Resources
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Wearing the Hei Matau
The hei matau is worn with the hook pointing downward, as it would when fishing, reaching into the depths. This orientation is considered important in Māori tradition, and inverting it is generally avoided. The pendant sits close to the body, connecting its energies directly to the wearer’s mauri (life force).
Choosing a Pounamu Hei Matau
Hei matau come in a wide range of sizes and styles. A small, simple hook is understated and elegant for daily wear. A larger, more elaborate piece makes a significant statement. Kawakawa (dark green) produces a strong, classic piece; kahurangi (vivid green) creates something more vivid and striking. (read more: Types of Pounamu)
The hei matau is among the most universally meaningful pounamu gifts, appropriate for almost anyone and almost any occasion. Its message of abundance, strength, and safe passage is one that resonates across cultures and generations. (read more: Gifting Pounamu)
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hei Matau
What does the hei matau mean in pounamu?
The hei matau (fish hook) symbolises prosperity, strength, and safe travel over water. It connects to Māori fishing culture and mythology, and is one of the most popular and widely gifted pounamu designs in New Zealand.
Why is the hei matau associated with safe travel?
Māori were expert ocean navigators, and the fishing hook was a symbol of mastery over the sea. Wearing a hei matau while travelling over water was understood to invite that same mastery and protection — a spiritual assurance of safe passage.
Which way should a hei matau hang?
The hei matau is traditionally worn with the hook pointing downward, as it would when cast into the water to fish. This orientation is considered respectful to the design’s meaning and is how Māori traditionally wore it.
What is the difference between a hei matau and a hei matau with koru?
A standard hei matau is a pure fish hook form. A hei matau with koru incorporates a spiral element, adding the meaning of new life and new beginnings to the fish hook’s themes of abundance and safe passage. (read more: Hei Matau with Koru)
Is the hei matau a good gift for someone who travels a lot?
Yes — the hei matau is one of the most traditional and meaningful gifts for travellers. Its association with safe passage over water (and by extension, all kinds of journeys) makes it especially appropriate for frequent travellers, sailors, surfers, or anyone embarking on a significant journey.
What stone is best for a hei matau?
All pounamu types produce beautiful hei matau. Kawakawa (dark forest green) is the most traditional and widely used. Kahurangi (bright, clear green) is considered especially precious and creates a vibrant piece. (read more: Types of Pounamu)