Pikorua Meaning: The Māori Twist Symbol of Connection

Quick answer: Pikorua is a Māori twist design formed from interlacing paths. It is commonly associated with enduring connection and relationships: paths may separate and meet again, making the form especially associated with friendship, family and lasting bonds.

What does the pikorua symbol mean?

A single pikorua twist is often explained as the paths of two people whose lives, though they may separate, always come back together. Double and triple twists extend the idea to families, peoples and cultures joining. The design's shape is its meaning.

Taonga and tikanga

In Māori culture, carved designs such as the pikorua can be taonga, treasures, carrying ancestral significance, and their use is guided by tikanga, customary practice. New Zealand's Intellectual Property Office has a Māori Advisory Committee that considers whether proposed trade marks drawing on Māori imagery would be offensive to Māori, a sign of how seriously these designs are taken.

Gifting a pikorua

Pikorua pendants are often given as gifts to mark friendship, family relationships or an enduring bond.

The pikorua in jewellery

A pikorua design honours Māori art and the idea of connection it expresses. You can see the AURYN Pikorua charm, or read about Makemake of Rapa Nui, elsewhere in Polynesia.

Frequently asked questions

What does pikorua mean?

Pikorua is a Māori twist design commonly associated with enduring connection, intertwined paths and relationships that continue across time or distance.

What does the Māori twist symbolise?

The interlacing form is often understood as paths that separate and meet again, which is why the design is associated with friendship, family, loyalty and lasting bonds.

Is pikorua a Māori symbol?

Yes. Pikorua is a Māori design and should be understood in the context of Māori art and culture rather than treated as a generic decorative motif.