Fantail in Pohutukawa

Fantails are such quirky little birds; I love watching them flit about in search of the next tasty snack. I cannot help but smile when watching them. This Fantail is perched in Pohutukawa blossoms. Pohutukawa are protected and grow mainly in coastal areas and is often referred to as New Zealand’s Christmas tree because of its brilliant abundance of red flowers in bloom in December.

To me this image represents freedom of mind, body and soul.

Māori Mythology
There is another reason these two have been paired, both have deep meanings linked to spiritual ancestors and death within Māori Mythology.

The red Pohutukawa flowers represent the blood of a young warrior Tawhaki, a spirit ancestor who mapped a path from earth to heaven but tragically fell and died along the way. There is a gnarled, old Pohutukawa at Cape Reinga which is known as the “place of leaping” where the spirits begin their journey back.

Fantails are commonly referred to as messengers from the spirits. However, it is considered a bad omen should they come inside your house because it indicates an impending death.

Maui believed he could eradicate death and ease emotional pain for those left behind if he could pass through the body of the goddess of death, Hine-Nui-te-poi. He planned to enter through the pathway of birth while she was sleeping, and he warned the birds who were keeping watch to be silent and not to wake her. As he went to enter, the fantail being a cheery fellow and playing the joker began laughing. The laughter woke Hine-nui-te-poi who promptly killed Maui, giving the fantail its reputation.

It could have been that the fantail may have laughed to get revenge on Maui from a previous incident. During the cold of midwinter, Maui wanted to keep his family warm with fire but Mahuika, the goddess of fire had hidden it in a secret place. Maui, knowing the little fantail knew the location of the fire, squeezed it in his hand demanding to know the whereabouts, causing the birds eyes to bulge and tail to fan out. The little bird kept his secret, but legend is he did not forget the rough treatment he received from Maui that day.

Watercolour painting print
Limited Edition: 50 images in A4
Print is A4, on 300msg card stock.