Te Ika Aroha, meaning The Fish of Love, carries a name that reflects care, guardianship, and deep connection. This Manaia was carved from a very special piece of Pounamu brought to me by its owner. It already held great personal significance, and my task was to shape it into something that honoured that connection while…
This taonga has been named “Ngā Kaitiaki Rua” — The Two Guardians. It embodies the essence of protection, connection between two lives, and the balance of worlds. The double-sided manaia design symbolises father and son, guardianship, and the duality of life. This taonga was created from a slice of Pounamu that held deep personal significance….
This piece is called Tirohanga — “A View or Perspective” — referencing the manaia’s protective gaze and the broader perspective of life and sustenance represented by the unaunahi. It’s a taonga that speaks of insight, guardianship, and awareness — a piece for someone who carries vision and sees deeply into the world around them. This…
This set of three taonga is among the most personal and moving pieces I’ve had the honour to create. Commissioned by a man who is facing the reality of terminal illness, these taonga were carved for the people he holds closest: his wife and two sons. Each piece comes from the same piece of Pounamu,…
I recently completed a special commission for a 12cm Manaia carved from a stunning piece of very pale, almost white Inanga Pounamu. This taonga has been named Mana Tāwhito, meaning “Ancient Power.” The name reflects the deep spiritual significance of the Manaia as a guardian and its connection to ancestral wisdom and strength. The Manaia…
This is a very special set. When I heard this story and what they wanted my heart went out to them. The father has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. This set is primarily for them as a tangible representation of his love and enduring presence after he is gone. Named He Aroha Tonutanga, which…
This exquisite pounamu pendant is the result of a customer’s commission, who had a unique vision for a minimalist design that evoked balance. The pendant takes the form of a Manaia, with a strikingly abstract twist, featuring curves that are alluring, and a design that exhibits satisfying symmetry, drawing the eye in. Carved from Marsden…
This is a spectacular pounamu and a spectacular set of carvings for this whanau. It is made from inganga pounamu from the Arahura river. It has chatoyant or pipiwhirauroa characteristics which can make it shimmer in the light. It is named for the long tail feathers of the pipiwhirauroa. First steps were choosing the slices…
