New Zealand paua shell is one of the most cherished treasures of the South Pacific and has a unique beauty recognised the world over.  Paua Craft: A nga paua celebrates our fascination with this iridescent marine mollusc.  Richly illustrated with nearly 100 full-colour photographs, this is also a practical guidebook presenting pendant designs hand-crafted from New Zealand paua shell, and accompanied by simple advice on how to make your own pieces.  Useful information on the tools and techniques are detailed at each stage of the craft process, from roughing out your design through to finishing and weather protecting. Malcolm McCrea explores the popular appeal of his singular material and includes sections on: grading different species of paua; conservation restrictions on collecting; safety issues when working with paua shell; buying and selling your finished pieces; paua shell wholesalers; the significance of symbols such as koru, roimata, putaputa, as well as animals like cats, dogs and lizards, whale flukes and the silver fern.