Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 595 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 1 week 2 days ago) and read 6004 times:
I received this little guy from Air New Zealand in the late 70s when I was a kid in Los Angeles calling all those international airlines and getting freebies , timetables , posters etc. They were generous in those days...
anyway, this little guy was sent to me from Air New Zealand and I must have had about 3 or 4, but this one has literally been on my person since the 70s because I always have and do carry a duffle, or briefcase or backpack and my check book and other items are carried in a specific zip pouch, and this too is in it because I just dont throw things away. I guess it's become a sort of good luck charm.
Any significance of this little character? Anybody else have one? It's a small very hard plastic tiki in green with red eyes. The back says air new zealand in old style font and is worn. I could never bear to give it away, it's just simply in my items each day. Thought I'd share this cool item.
kiwiinoz From New Zealand, joined Oct 2005, 2029 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5812 times:
That little guy is a Tiki. He is a Maori pendant, traditionally carved out of greenstone and worn around the neck. I was taught that they serve as a memorial to ancestors
There is an amusing reference to the Air New Zealand tikis in this 42 below ad satirising the distorted global view of New Zealand: