This tara pirohe depicts the endemic black-fronted tern of Aotearoa. Found mainly along the braided rivers of Te Waipounamu, these agile birds hunt insects and small fish, nesting on exposed shingle banks.

In Māori culture, tara pirohe are associated with beauty, grace and high status. The expression tāhuna ā-tara, a sandbank of terns, was used to honour a gathering of chiefs, drawing a connection between the birds’ presence and the mana of those gathered.

Today, tara pirohe are nationally endangered, threatened by introduced predators and habitat loss.

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.