Kōmiromiro, the tomtit bird.

The kōmiromiro, while tiny in size, the appearance of this bird unexpectedly inside a house was regarded as an aitua, omen of misfortune. It was a medium to the gods. Its sharp sight in seeking out insects and grubs is recalled in the saying about an observant person:

He karu kōmiromiro, a tomtit’s eye

It can spot an insect 10 metres away.

The bird was nicknamed torotoro, or scout by Māori for its habit of appearing from nowhere in the forest.

There was its habit of scratching the ground over which an enemy had walked.

This was a telltale sign to the warrior looking for footprints of his foe.

In the battle of the birds, the kōmiromiro had a special job too, as torotoro for the land birds, to keep watch on the movements of the enemy.

It was considered best suited because of its keen and quick vision, its ability to move rapidly but secretly.

In the legend of Maui who followed his mother Taranga to the underworld, the Matata, Bay of Plenty, version of the myth says that Maui showed himself to the people of the underworld as kōmiromiro, not as a pigeon.

He perched on the crescent-shaped end of a ko, or digging stick, and sang a planting song.

Since then, the crescent–shaped part of the ko has been called a whakataumiromiro, and the kōmiromiro known as “one of Maui’s birds”.

Indeed it accompanied Maui to his fatal meeting with Hinenuitepō.

Thereafter, Maui manifested himself to man in the form of the kōmiromiro.

It’s voice was Maui’s voice. His spirit lived on in the bird even though his bodily form may have perished.

There is no doubt also that “the kōmiromiro is the lovebird, he manu aroha te kōmiromiro, as the old saying goes, for it was the go–between when a husband wanted to get an errant wife back.

To cast an atahu, or love charm, a husband would consult the tohunga and the kōmiromiro was the medium and the messenger.

However far away the woman might be, the bird would fly to her and settle on her head.

The charm would begin to work and she would be unable to resist its power, being gently propelled back to him.

Made with recycled tyre tube, vinyl and stainless steel hooks.

Measures 3.5cm x 3.5cm.