Te Ara Tahi — A Shared Path in Aroha Stone
Te Ara Tahi, meaning “the shared path”, is an Aroha stone pendant I carved to represent two people travelling through life together. It brings together their enduring partnership, memories of a journey through the South Island, and the experiences still ahead.
The commission marked a 50th birthday and 25 years together, both celebrated during their travels around the South Island. The intention was to create something personal that could be worn regularly, carrying a connection to each other and to the places they had visited.
We chose a piece of Aroha stone from the southern South Island specifically for this design. This schist has rich purple, pink and white layers, with natural variation that gives the pendant its own landscape. I shared the selected piece before beginning, and its depth of colour and layering became an important part of the final choice.
The design developed through a conversation about partnership, continuity and renewal. I suggested a circular form with a simple mountain skyline, drawing on the Southern Alps and the way mountains can become places of connection and shared experience. The circular outer edge reinforces the idea of continuity, holding the mountain scene within one connected form.
At approximately 50 millimetres in diameter, the pendant also holds a reference to the recipient’s 50th birthday. Its size carries that meaning without needing an inscription.
Just above the first, lower peak on the left are two small carved marks. These represent the couple at this point in their shared journey. I kept them subtle and organic, slightly different from one another, so they sit naturally within the design. From their position, the mountain line continues towards a higher peak, representing the journey still unfolding ahead.
Balancing those small details with the stone’s natural pattern was an important part of carving this piece. I wanted the skyline and the two marks to remain visible while allowing the purple, pink and white layers to be a central feature.
Te Ara Tahi is suspended from a black cord with a three-hole ring-bolt lashing. This frames the top of the pendant and helps it sit steadily when worn.
What I valued most about carving this taonga was bringing several connected meanings into a simple design. The stone connects it to the South Island, the dimensions acknowledge a milestone, and the two small marks place the couple within a journey that continues.
