This New Zealand Fridge Magnet celebrates Pania of The Reef, a statue created in 1954 in Napier.
Pania was a beautiful Maori sea maiden. During the day she swam with other sea creatues, but after dark she would head to a Napier stream. It was at the stream that she met Karitoki, the handsome son of a Maori chief, and they fell in love, secretly marrying.
After marrying, and heading to Karitoki's whare (house), Pania needed to leave when the sun came up. She explained to Karitoki that she would not survive if she did not return to the sea during the day. But she promised to return to him each night.
Karitoki was frustrated by this situation. He consulted a kaumatua, who told him that if he fed Pania cooked food, she would not be able to return to the sea. Karitoki subsequently put cooked food in Pania's mouth while she was sleeping. But a morepork created a loud warning sound, and Pania awoke. Distraught at Karitoki trying to deceive her, she went back to sea, never to return.
The Pania of the Reef fridge magnet measures approximately 51mm x 66mm x 5mm (2 1/8' x 2 5/8' x 1/4'). It is made from bamboo.
Proudly made in New Zealand, and shipped worldwide.
