Maori Bone Necklaces for Boaters

Nothing like ripping off some Maori/Haida/Aboriginal (delete as applicable) Culture for a quick buck eh?

How about getting Maori carvings done by Maoris? Rather than Balinese people, you might as well get them knocked up in sweatshops as compared to a real Maori carving the quality is awful.

If you want a proper carvings I recommend buying direct from a carver or from a store that actually supports artists. As that is what Pounamu and Bone carvings are, wearable Art,

This store for example supports talented artists who put Toanga into their work.
The Bone Art Place

The carvings that are sold by Wanderer Imports have nothing to do with Maori culture and are just bits of bone.

this guy obviously has a bone to pick with those stinkin Balinese people, and since when are we talking about knocking up people in sweatshops? What is next?

Maori pounamu is sacred to our people, and the carvings certainly dont offer safe passage if they have been ripped off and not blessed, in fact, more the opposite… i would be very careful Mr Wanderer imports, you are messing with Tapu.

I support Dan and Al on this! the meaning and importance of a piece of art can’t be recreated with knock offs. It is cunning and inappropriate and I’m surprised to this is even selling in this age of fair trade and where authenticity matters. Especially when they emphasize the MEANING of the jewelery.

I am highly offended not really by the ad simply being placed on Facebook, but by the appeal to help this guy (an obviously physically and mentally fit athlete) “avoid getting a real job.”
I have been diagnosed as bipolar for ten years, and have managed to work full-time for only 3 of those years, very early in my twenties. At the age of 32, my parents are still paying for my rent, groceries, clothing, medication, and everything under the sun because many employers have chosen not to hire me due to at least one huge gap in employment on my resume.

I WANT DESPERATELY to work in order to pay my own rent and bills, buy my own clothing, etc. I have a Bachelor’s Degree (and I busted my ass to get through college) from a well-respected college, yet I have experienced the inner shame resulting from general discrimination directed toward the mentally ill. When, at this age, I thought I would have a Ph.D in Eng. Lit., I am now applying to work at Old Navy, Target, World Market, etc. – and I do consider those REAL jobs.

I should stop here, because I get so fed up with this lazy-ass trust fund attitude so common in Asheville.

Christ, give this guy a break. He’s making a living, which is more than most of can say. WTF?

Whoa nelly! The kid is trying to support himself and his chosen way of life…ease up people. I challenge all you self-righteous SOBs to support local industry, stop wasting fossils fuels, and smile a bit. You all need to stop the hate. We’ve got more than enough haters out here already. Chill out and let the kid do his thing.
Much Love, JZ

There are lots of things out there you can do on the net to make a quick buck.

Unfortunately ripping off other cultures and crafts with little or no understanding of what it really means is probably not one of the best.

I am a kayaker and I wear a real Matau which brings me luck and is my connection to my loved ones when I am away.

I am also one of those New Zealand carvers this clown and his cheep Balinese knock offs are ripping off.
I have been a bone carver for over 30 years and learned my craft the traditional way along with a deep respect an understanding of what makes a real Taonga, the skills handed down over generations and the meanings and philosophy behind all of the design elements used. Every carving has a story and profound meaning behind every line and curve of its form, something this guy nor the people he cons into buying his stiff will never understand.
I and my fellow artists make a living for our families from our craft but unfortunately that is now becoming very hard to do when the market is flooded with these cheep poor quality fakes from China, the Philippines and other countries where workers can be used and abused for profit.

It wouldn’t be so bad if this guy was an artist and actually did the work himself but he doesn’t even do that. We support local industry and artists, we educate on the culture, we respect and cherish our natural world, we encourage and support artists of all cultures, races, religions and backgrounds in whatever they do to feed their souls.

Lighten up someone said. Thats easy to say when you don’t care about the effects your actions have on others. I would love to see how you would lighten up if someone took your culture, your art, your identity and the money from your pocket you need to feed your family. You would make a lot of noise if someone ripped you off but its OK if it’s someone else getting hurt, good skills

I sent the nice young man an email. I was born in NZ, and found this extremely offensive to the indigenous people of our land.. Here is his response.

I normally take polite criticisms to my business well, and deal with them politely. However, occasionally I get some worthless fuck like you. Obviously, your sexual frustration has poured out into flaming people on the internet. If I were you, I’d stop masturbating, go worry about fixing your sad pathetic fucking life and possibly consider eating a gun. I’m blocking your e-mail, just because I know you’re waiting to work out more of that inner anger through a reply.

Peace,
Sean

wow,
My son wears one of these necklaces. I think it is neat. Chances are I would never have purchased a real one for him.
Settle down people.

Nothing good can come from wearing overpriced knockoffs. Lame lame lame. And handcarved??? With a dremel? Dude shouldnt even be allowed to use the word maori in his ad.

I have a Maori necklace that my wife got me when we visited NZ in 1999. I still wear it around my neck and it has a lot of meaning for me, and I got my dad one as well and he never takes it off. The fact that it comes from NZ and is a part of the Maori tradition is what makes it special. I would suggest to the enterprising young fellow who is selling these necklaces from Bali to consider working with actual Maori people. Legitimize your enterprise and all will be good. I do give him credit for being transparent in his business practices, he could’ve just hidden that information with a load of BS, but he didn’t. I think his intentions are good, but he’s forgotten the importance of legitimacy and credibility.

PS- Lose the “help me avoid a real job” crap, you should be saying “help me establish a real business so that I can continue to pursue my passion for kayaking”

I say, good for this kid. Capitalism at it’s best! Don’t like it? Too bad. There’s nothing you can do. How is he ripping off other carvers? If they were smart, they’d be advertising on Facebook too. Survival of the fittest. There is a market of people who care about the “profound meaning” of a necklace, and there is a market of people who could care less.

Now, if the world economy falls apart, and this kid’s business goes down the tubes, and he has no other solid skills to make a living from, that’s also survival of the fittest.

Dude have you even checked wikipedia?
“Balinese Hinduism is a heterogeneous amalgam in which gods and demigods are worshiped together with Buddhist heroes, the spirits of ancestors, indigenous agricultural deities and also with places”
versus
“.conceiving of everything, including natural elements and all living things as connected by common descent through whakapapa or genealogy.”
“In Māori mythology, Tangaroa (also Takaroa) is one of the great gods, the god of the sea. He is a son of Rangi and Papa, Sky and Earth.” .
When your salt water boating trip turns to custard and you need every bit of extra help you can get, who do you think will offer the edge? Some worshipped land animal that thinks salt water tastes funny? Or every ancestor you have ever had plus a bone fidi sea god from the Polynesian equivalent of the vikings?
When you’re on the waves, quality counts, and if you’re going to get a necklace, get one made by wide ranging nautical nomads with a proven history on the worlds biggest oceans.

Hey guys, This is Sean from Wanderer Imports. When I started this business I had to learn that if you are going to do anything, someone is going to criticize you. I realize that this isn’t going to mollify most of the people who have decided I am some sort of evil culture stealing monster, but I’m pretty much just a 22 year old boater from Asheville. I do get some criticism ocassionally, but I have alot more happy people tell me how much they enjoy the jewelry (4-5 e-mails a day) so I sleep pretty well at night. I’ve been wearing one of the hei matau carved in bali since I was 17, long before I ever started importing them, and most of my close friends I boat with wear them too. I don’t believe it detracts from the significance , but anyone who does and can afford the 60 dollar price can feel free to buy from the bone art place or another company. The e-mail to hunter was a response to an extremely rude personal attack and certainly doesn’t some up my feelings towards other people with legitimate criticisms.

Just as a side note (and to respond to the totally baseless sweatshop comment) I pay the independant carvers I work with well and provide people with a great product at a great price. Getting fair trade certified is one of my business goals (though it’s pretty hard for a small business), and I deal with carvers in bali because I am supporting small carvers and can still sell the necklaces at a price most younger boaters can afford ($15.50). I don’t think these should just be for rich people.

I really don’t see any way what I am doing is harming the Maori, and I really respect thier culture. If anything, I believe I am spreading the culture and helping people become more aware of them. Who knows, this might even prompt people to travel to New Zealand, see the Maori people and spend some money there.

Anyway, I hope this clears my position on stuff up a little. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and interpretations, even if that means they think I’m an evil capitalistic maori hater ;-).

I’m a boater and guide in the s.east. This guy is obviously a prick. The fact he admitted he wrote the email about masturbation, etc… sums up his intelligence and business ethics. Who knows who’s making the necklaces. I’ve told my friends not to buy these necklaces online or at Diamond Brand and to pay the extra cash to get something authentic. If you look hard enough you can find a free trade certified Maori necklace straight from NZ.

Woah, these are expensive! I was at a street fair (in Boulder, CO) where a local artist was selling similar bone and wood carvings with cord for $5!

LOL @ Chris, since when is “Wikipedia” a solid source for proving or disproving anything. I could go change that page to say whatever I want right now.

I, too, got attracted to Wanderer’s faux Maori bone carvings by the price, I’ve bought two now. But I won’t be supporting Sean any further. True, I love my Koru bone carving and am even being inspired now to create my own, but, BUT I won’t be selling mine as they are not true Maori works of art. I will give them to friends with caveats that they are not to be depended on for safe travel over water, only TRUE Maori carvings can do this.
I hope Sean will consider taking a trip to NZ someday and spend some time with a few Maoris to get the feeling of their culture and their commitment to their art. Perhaps they will also infuse him with humble dignity, respect for their art and courtesy for all living creatures.
I think Sean is learning some tough life lessons, as we all have, and will perhaps seek out elders or others in the Maori culture to pattern his life after. I know he’ll find kind and generous hearted people who will teach him how to live and let live. It’s a good lesson for us all.
Best wishes in your next venture, Sean.

The people posting comments in this section aside from Sean West are nothing more than blasphemous idiots. You should all be ashamed at the fact that you’re criticizing a guy who is making a living selling a good trade. He’s not “ripping off” anyone or any culture. If anything he’s helping spread the interest of the culture this jewelry represents. I have previously bought one of Sean’s necklaces for my gf and she loves it which is why I am also buying one now. “Go buy a real piece of authentic…” like really? Are you people that critical…1. its a piece of jewelry 2.He’s a worker not a slave driver 3. Sorry to break it to you all, but authentic (whatever you guys think that is supposed to mean) or not, no necklace is going to protect you in water…if you want that..go get some swim lessons. Grow Up Everybody! I am embarrassed to have even seen this kind of talk on a link about an ad for the jewelry. Go spend your money on expensive stuff if you think you’re so special and connected to culture, but as for me I say I’ll stick to helping the small business man out along with relying on a boat for save passage. Thanks

I feel that some people might have gotten a little too upset about this entire manner. Although I do have to say Sean’s response to Hunter was completely immature and utterly unprofessional. I hold nothing against him but only hope he can learn to conduct himself better in the future.