To me this set is everything that whanau should be. It is connection. It is values. It is tangible representation of the loving bond that a cohesive whanau has. This is a set full of meaning and depth. It was commissioned by the Mum who has recently received a terminal cancer diagnosis! Devastating! She wanted…
Pounamu is a connector, it connects us with the things in our lives that we value, often they are people or places. It can connect us with our Turangawaewae, our place that we connect most strongly with, our place to stand. This set does both. Koru represent significant people in their life, the two pendants…
This is a stunning piece of pounamu with a heavy kaupapa to go with it. I wouldn’t usually make such a large and heavy toki, but the circumstances were there to justify this one. This is 9cm long and 2.5cm thick! The pounamu is Marsden Flower Pounamu from the Marsden area on the West coast…
This is a hoi a made for a previous colleague that has just left the school we worked at together. The hoi is very appropriate and symbolic for the campus he worked at. They use a metaphor of paddling in a waka in how the staff work together as well as for the learning journey…
This is a special set commissioned for a son on his 21st originally as just a toki. Mana is power, Whanau is family, and Tahi is one or unity in this case. The name of the set means powerful and strong family connection. The original idea was a toki for the son something to bless…
This toki is for a much loved man in a family. It was designed with mana and power in mind. The Lions head is to symbolise fearlessness, and urge to protect, loyalty, and leadership. It also connects this man with his home country, Sri Lanka, and so connects where he is from and where he…
This is a stunning example of a large classic style toki. Gorgeous kawakawa pounamu that is named for the colour of the plant with the name kawakawa.
This is a gorgeous example of a simple traditional style toki, based on actual toki that were used when stone tools were the best on offer in Aotearoa. This is made from Kawakawa pounamu from the Kaniere stream area. It revealed a cool lightning like feature as it was polished.
This Toki is for a sone that is approaching adulthood and about to head out on his on haerenga/journey in life. The top line goes all the way around and represents himself. The dashes and notches are to represent his whanau so he will always carry them close to his heart. The double koru is…
This is an example of a re-curved toki, that is similar in design to some modern chisels. This particular one is made from Kawakawa pounamu, named for the colouring that resembles that of the kawakawa plant. It is 7cm long and 4cm wide at the base. The Toki was a originally a tool used by…
