This is a set for a whanau of three, Mum, Dad, and Son.
Each piece came from the same piece of pounamu, they lay side by side connected until the recent carving process.
This is how they started out as rough blanks, chosen specifically for this set, all from the same piece.
Each pendant has 3 notches in the side. This is to represent the three family members.
This is a special set commissioned for a son on his 21st originally as just a toki. Mana is power, Whanau is family, and Tahi is one or unity in this case. The name of the set means powerful and strong family connection. The original idea was a toki for the son something to bless…
I recently had the pleasure of carving a special set of Pounamu pendants for a mother and her first daughter. These pieces, made from the gorgeous and translucent Inanga Pounamu sourced from the Arahura River, are a testament to the strength and unity of their family. This set is named Kotahitanga Koru, meaning “Unity Spiral,”…
Every creation has a soul, a resonance that echoes its origins and intentions. My latest set, named Wairua Whero, meaning the ‘Spirit of Red,’ embodies just that. This spirit is not merely a reflection of the deep earthy red-brown hue of the catlinite stone but a testament to the profound stories and traditions that the…
I recently carved a special Toki from a stunning piece of Hapopo Pounamu, gifted to a good friend who embodies the essence of making connections with others. The stone is a bright green with darker swirls, showcasing the natural beauty of Hapopo Pounamu. This Toki is 6cm in length and features two koru carved into…
As the year draws to a close, I’ve had the honour of creating a special set of taonga to recognise the contributions of the head students at my kura. This set of five Niho, carved from a single piece of Kawakawa Pounamu sourced from South Westland, embodies the connection these leaders have shared with each…
Toki, traditional Maori adzes, are renowned for their strength and the skilled hands required to craft them. But sometimes, the greatest transformations occur when we surrender to nature’s artistry, as is the case with my newest piece, “Dawnlight”. This toki began its life as a humble agate, a gemstone formed within the fiery heart of…