TAONGA
To Māori, pāua are recognised taonga, or treasure, esteemed both as kaimoana (seafood) and as a valued resource for traditional and contemporary arts and crafts. Pāua are frequently used to represent the eyes in the Māori carvings and traditionally are associated with the stars or whetū, the symbolic eyes of ancestors that gaze down from the night sky.
Haliotis iris
This marine species is endemic to New Zealand. Blackfoot pāua is the largest abalone species found in New Zealand. It is most commonly found in shallow cool waters at depths of less than 6m. The species occurs all around mainland New Zealand, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Islands. These sea snails often form large clusters in the sub-littoral zone on open, exposed coasts, where drift seaweed accumulates and there is good water movement. Blackfoot pāua grow to about 180mm in shell width.
