Te Haepapa Tūturu translates to “the enduring responsibility.” This name reflects a life shaped by service, where responsibility is not something carried lightly or temporarily, but something lived every day. This taonga was created to represent that steady commitment to others — to guiding, supporting, and helping people grow in challenging environments. It also acknowledges…
The name Te Here Whakapapa speaks to the binding threads of lineage and connection. “Here” means to tie or bind, and “whakapapa” refers to genealogy, the layers of connection that link people across generations. This set was created to honour a single piece of Pounamu that had been held by this whānau for decades, now…
Te Taura Whakapapa means the binding line of genealogy. I chose this name because this set was carved from a single family-held piece of Kawakawa Pounamu that had already travelled through generations. The stone itself carried whakapapa before I ever touched it. By shaping it into taonga for different members of the whānau, the line…
Te Whatu Whānau translates as “the family weave.” This name was chosen because this set is about many lives woven together from a single source. Every taonga in this set comes from the same gifted cobble of Pounamu, carrying the same whakapapa, yet each piece holds its own form, role, and meaning within the whānau….
Whakapiringa means to be bound together. This name was chosen to reflect the kaupapa of this whānau set: four individuals, each with their own form and role, all connected through whakapapa, shared stone, and a common story. Every piece in this set was carved from the same block of deep green Kawakawa Pounamu sourced from…
Te Pūtake o te Manawanui means the source or foundation of inner strength. I chose this name because this taonga speaks directly to resilience that is grown, carried, and lived with over time, especially through challenge. This set was commissioned as a gift for a woman who, along with her whānau, has moved through a…
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…
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