This whēkau depicts the extinct laughing owl of Aotearoa. Larger than the ruru, the whēkau had a distinctive face and a haunting call of repeated cries and shrieks.

The whēkau nested in caves, rock crevices and sheltered places. It disappeared in the early 20th century through habitat loss and introduced predators and is now remembered as one of Aotearoa’s lost manu.

Within Māori culture the whēkau’s distinctive call was regarded as a warning. Its name refers to entrails, reflecting its feeding habits on rats and birds.

This piece ships after 6th Nov 2026. Exclusive to Mountain Jade, this one-off art piece forms part of the 2026 Ngā Tamariki-a-Tāne-Mahuta Collection, celebrating the beauty and character of Aotearoa’s native birds through pounamu and contemporary carving. This collection will be on display in our Rotorua store from Thursday 1st October. Pieces may be purchased throughout the exhibition period but only be shipped once the exhibition concludes on 6th November. Read more.