I carved this pair of toki as a special commission for a father who wanted to gift something deeply personal to his two daughters. I have named this set Te Tirohanga Whānau, which translates to “The Gaze of the Family,” reflecting the idea of parents always watching over, guiding, and caring for their children. The…
Te Whenua e Tūhono Ana translates as “the land that connects us”. It speaks to connection through place, whakapapa, and whānau, and to the way land can bind people together through care, work, and shared responsibility. This name reflects both the kaupapa of this set and the origin of the kōhatu itself. This set of…
The set is named Te Here Tohorā — the binding of the whale — a name that speaks to a connection that holds firm beneath the surface, shaped by movement, distance, and time. This commission came from a place of long commitment, distance, and persistence. The father has spent many years doing everything he could…
I created this set of eight Hei Toki for a group of school leavers who have each excelled in their areas. These taonga were carved to recognise their hard work, determination, and the qualities that helped them stand out during their final year at school. Each toki is a reminder of their achievement and a…
These two Hei Toki were carved as a continuation of a story that began with their father. A few years ago, I made him a Toki named Hononga, a piece that carried the kaupapa of connection — connection to people, to place, and to the whenua of Te Wai Pounamu. When he asked me to…
These two taonga were carved as a matched pair, created to honour a brother and sister and the strength of their bond. Their parents wanted each toki to reflect who their children are, what they stand for, and the work they do in the world. The kaupapa that guided this set was whakapumau — enduring…
I recently finished a special set of taonga for a whānau of four. They wanted something that marked their journey together and their deep connection to Aotearoa, and we decided to carve a matching set of toki from the same piece of stone. Using one stone for all four pieces meant the taonga would always…
Tātau Whānau means “our family” or “all of us as a family.” I chose this name because these taonga come from a single slice of Pounamu that has travelled through generations of their Ngāi Tahu whānau. The name makes the meaning explicit: this stone has always belonged to the collective. By becoming a roimata and…
At the Inside Pounamu wānanga at Otago University, I had the chance to take part in a scientific and cultural exploration of how heat affects pounamu. I began with a single slab of South Westland pounamu and cut it in half. One half was left in its natural state, while the other was carefully heat-treated….
These two taonga were carved from a single piece of Inanga Pounamu, brought to me by a whānau member to create something lasting and meaningful from stone that held deep personal significance. The Pounamu had been with their beloved husband and grandfather in his final days, kept close as a taonga that symbolised his strength…
