Ngā Kete StoryTile
Before time was counted, when darkness and light still spoke as one, three baskets were woven from the threads of eternity — the Kete Mātauranga.The baskets of knowledge are not simply relics of myth, they are living vessels that continue to guide us through both peril and opportunity. In times of challenge, they steady us with ritual, balance, and memory.
All our StoryTiles can be rotated to reveal not only a new design, but a new story encoded within it. This unique feature allows a single design to hold multiple narratives, offering both variety and depth. Below, you’ll discover how the spinning design works, the stories behind each orientation, and the richness of our colour palette.
Kete Uruuru
Matua
Among the three sacred baskets Tāwhaki returned with was Te Kete Uruurumatua - the basket of aroha, of peace, and of the arts that sustain the living world.
This basket of wisdom(1) is carried by sacred handles(2) to those who listen deeply to the land and sea. It is the knowledge gathered not through force, but through careful observation - the way a bird studies the wind before flight, or how the tide measures its return to shore. Within it lies the understanding that the Earth teaches best when approached with reverence and quiet attention.
The directional flow of knowledge(3) is the guiding principle of progress forwards.
Kete Uruuru
Tawhito
Te Kete Uruuru Tawhito is a sacred vessel that holds the distilled intelligence of those who came before us. Within this kete is the knowledge that teaches us not only how to survive, but how to thrive by discerning what is tika (right), what is pono (true), and what will serve the wellbeing of generations yet to come. The directional flow(1) of this kete is behind us into memory.
Unlike other baskets that may focus on knowledge acquisition or moral development, Te Kete Uruuru Tawhito specialises in discernment which is the ability to identify, prioritise, and act on the best information available, while avoiding that which is misleading, harmful, or rooted in short-term thinking.
Kete Uruuru
Tau
Te Kete Uruuru Tau is often referred to as the Basket of War and Conflict, but its deeper meaning stretches far beyond the battlefield. It contains knowledge related to movement, motion, dominance, effort, and labour - the kinds of physical and strategic energies that shape survival, authority, and transformation.
This kete holds the tools for action in the material world, it teaches us how to navigate struggle, how to assert strength, and how to move with purpose. The directional flow(1) of this kete is downward, where momentum exists in stillness.
Kete Uruuru
Rangi
This basket holds the highest and most subtle forms of wisdom. Within this kete reside the sacred rituals, karakia, incantations, and esoteric understandings that connect the human spirit to the divine, the individual to the collective, and the inner world to the outer cosmos.
Its directional flow is upward(1), teaching us how to elevate consciousness. It offers tools not just for knowing, but for feeling, connecting, and remembering.
Explore the
Collection
Our collection of StoryTiles can be purchased by clicking and ordering any of the following.
