Te bunna wi ni baneawa

Te bunna wi ni baneawa. Neck ornament of milk fish bones. This is made from three material components: te kora (coconut sennit fibre cordage), te moromoro (beads) and the bones from the head of the baneawa (milk fish; chanos chanos). A braided kora makes up the neck band. The bones vary in size but are similar in shape. One end of the bone is wide in shape and the opposite features a sharp tapered end upon closer inspection. There are a few among the series that show a forked end. The wide end has a drilled circular perforation where a strand of the braided kora has been threaded through. Black te moromoro has been threaded in between each bone pendant creating an alternating pattern. This pattern has been finished off with three red te moromoro at each end of the pattern along te mwae (Neck ornament). The bones are off-white in colour and the kora is a mid brown in tone. This Neck ornament is unfastened. The name of this neck ornament portrays its elements of significance, protection and a reflection of the wearers social status in society.