Manaia
Named after the manaia, a spiritual figure in Māori tradition: a creature depicted as a human body with the head of a bird, serving as a guardian between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Meaning and origin
Manaia derives from the manaia motif, a distinctive and sacred design element in Māori visual culture, particularly in woodcarving and jewellery.
How to pronounce Manaia
| Māori (New Zealand) | mah-NAI-ah /maˈnaɪa/ |
|---|
About this entry
Drafted with the help of an AI model, then checked by a person. Last checked on 16 September 2026.
The sources behind this entry are listed in the app.