This ruru depicts Aotearoa’s native owl. A nocturnal hunter, the ruru is recognised by its large eyes, rounded wings and distinctive call, which carries through the ngahere at night.

Within Māori culture, the ruru’s calls were interpreted as tohu (sign). Different calls could carry different meanings, with the bird sometimes regarded as a guardian or messenger between the living world and the unseen.

The ruru remains a familiar presence in Aotearoa’s forests, where it hunts insects, birds and small animals under the cover of darkness.

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.