A Rock Legend Welcomed at Ōrākei Marae
Turner's stop in Auckland came during one of the biggest tours of her career, following the global success of Private Dancer. Her visit to Ōrākei Marae included a traditional welcome, and she joined in singing with those gathered rather than simply observing from the sidelines.
In recognition of the visit, Māori elders gifted her a wooden patu, a traditional close-quarter weapon form, as a mark of respect. It's a separate item from the hei tiki she arrived wearing, but both point to the same thing: a genuine cultural exchange rather than a staged photo opportunity.
What a Hei Tiki Represents
A hei tiki is one of the most recognisable pounamu forms, a stylised human figure worn as a pendant. Traditionally, hei tiki were treasured heirlooms, passed down through generations and imbued with the mana of those who wore them before.
Turner wearing one publicly, decades before pounamu had any real visibility outside New Zealand, is a small but genuine data point in how far the stone's recognition has travelled since.