The Many Cloaks of 'Te Ha o Aotearoa'

CREATIVISION™ New Zealand Limited's original goal for the venture was to produce a replica of the America's Cup trophy crafted from Pounamu. However, they realised that they had managed to produce a unique New Zealand object of art of many cloaks: 

The Cloak of Te Maori: To Maori (the tangata whenua (people of the land) of New Zealand and spiritual guardians of Pounamu), Pounamu in any form is a taonga (treasure). For centuries it was traded, fought over, treasured and revered for both its beauty and hardness and was used for tools, weapons, and as jewellery. 'Te Ha o Aotearoa' is a reflection of both the natural beauty that is Pounamu and the skills of the artisans who created it. Where ever this taonga may journey in the future, its wairua (spirit) will forever be linked back to New Zealand from where it was created.

The Cloak of Jade: 'Te Ha o Aotearoa' is carved from Pounamu, which is the Maori name given to New Zealand Nephrite Jade and as such wears the cloak of the world wide fraternity of Jade enthusiasts, collectors and admirers. The deep green Pounamu used in this replica is called 'Kahurangi' and the white/transluscent veins that weave their way through it, are called 'Inanga'. Such colour and pattern combinations within the Pounamu makes it impossible to replicate this particular piece of Jade art. 

The Cloak of Artisans: This cloak represents the skills of the artisans (carvers and polishers) who transformed CREATIVISION™ New Zealand Limited's vision from raw Pounamu into the art piece you see before you today. Initially, using only drawings from the jeweller and then detailed photographs and measurements of the trophy, they scaled these down by an eighth before carving and polishing the eighty individual pieces and assembling them into the replica of the America's Cup trophy. This is the biggest Pounamu art piece to have been carved in Australasia. 

The Cloak of the America's Cup: There is only one of this unique replica of the America's Cup trophy and it was officially licensed by AC2000 Ltd for the America's Cup 2000 event. As a representation of the oldest sporting trophy still competed for in the world and with a one hundred and fifty years aura of history and drama, this cloak enwraps all yachting clubs and sailors from all nations. It also enwraps all America's Cup management, sponsors, historians, enthusiasts and collectors from throughout the world.

Cloak of Kitengahanga: To CREATIVISION™ New Zealand Limited 'Te Ha o Aotearoa' represented all of the above whilst remaining principally a business asset designed to help fund the company's visions and goals. It is their belief that they have conducted their venture in a manner that reflected their responsibilities to all of the parties concerned. They are overly proud of their achievement of producing such a unique and beautiful New Zealand art piece.

The Cloak of the Investors: As a unique piece of New Zealand art Te Ha o Aotearoa will have an attraction to discerning investors who will see the opportunity every four years (when the America's Cup Regatta is held) to test the investment waters to ascertain the new value of this object of art of many cloaks. It is now upon their shoulders that all of these cloaks rest and with this comes the responsibility that they are equally worn with dignity, respect and mana.