This hei toki was commissioned by a sculptor and carries several layers of meaning that are deeply connected to the people and experiences that have shaped his life. At the centre of the design is the prominent koru carved into the front face. For him, the koru represents his mother, who recently celebrated her 93rd…
This pair of Tangiwai Hei Toki began as a single stone held by one whānau for decades. Before these stones were passed on through future generations, the decision was made to transform them into taonga that could continue that journey through the people who would wear them. One Hei Toki was created for her son,…
Te Toka Pūmau means “the enduring stone” or “the grounding stone,” reflecting the role of the central display piece within this set of taonga. All three pieces were carved from a single cobble of Inanga Pounamu, keeping them permanently connected through the same source stone and the same natural history formed within Te Wai Pounamu….
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…
This taonga is called Te Kaha o te Ara, a name that speaks to the strength carried along one’s path. It reflects the idea of moving forward with purpose, making decisions with intent, and having the inner strength to shape direction over time. Pounamu carries a deep connection to the whenua and its own long…
This taonga is named Te Ngaru Māhaki, meaning “the gentle wave.” The name speaks to the balance of movement and calm, power and control. A wave carries strength, but it is not always forceful — it can be steady, quiet, and purposeful. This reflects the journey of a young man growing into himself, shaped by…
This fossil stone Toki carries deep time within it. Carved from a hard, fine-grained mudstone filled with ancient shell fossils, it holds the quiet story of the ocean pressed into stone. The slice was gifted to me by someone from the North Island, gathered from the Mohaka area in Tairāwhiti. From the moment I saw…
The name Te Manawa o te Wā means The Heart of Time. It speaks to the quiet truth at the centre of this taonga — that time is the most precious gift we are given. This toki was commissioned by a son whose mother, at 86, is nearing the end of her life. When she…
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….
