I have named this taonga Rau Whakaora, meaning “leaf of healing” or “healing leaf”. The name reflects the long connection between kawakawa and rongoā Māori, where the plant has been valued for healing, protection and restoring wellbeing. This taonga brings together both the kawakawa leaf and kawakawa Pounamu. The stone is a gorgeous deep green,…
Ngā Ngaru o te Aroha (The Waves of Love) is a collection of four pounamu taonga that I carved for one family, celebrating an engagement while honouring the connections that bind generations together. The commission came from a father in Australia, who wanted to create something meaningful for the engagement of his son Jamie and…
The name Te Rere o te Pīwakawaka means “The Flight of the Fantail.” It reflects the pīwakawaka as a symbol of curiosity, awareness, and connection, celebrating one of Aotearoa’s most recognisable native birds. This pīwakawaka is carved from a beautiful piece of serpentine Pounamu from the Whakatū/Tasman region. In natural light the stone appears deep,…
Te Whakapono Tūturu means “Enduring Faith”. This six-centimetre pounamu cross was commissioned by someone whose life changed dramatically after a serious accident. During a long recovery, faith became an important part of moving forward, and together we developed a design that reflected that journey. The finished taonga is intended to be worn every day, serving…
There is something understated and powerful about wearing taonga in a formal setting. These cufflinks were carved for a tāne who wanted a connection to Pounamu that could be worn with a suit or dress shirt, carried into important moments, celebrations, and milestones in life. We spent a long time selecting the right piece of…
This taonga is a 65mm whai (stingray) carved from stone gathered from the Rakahuri (Ashley River) in North Canterbury. It carries a strong sense of place, shaped not just by the stone itself, but by the connection the recipient has to that river, to Maukatere, and to the wider Hurunui landscape. The stone is a…
This 50mm Manawa was carved as a companion piece, created from the very same stone as a recent whānau commission — the Te Whatu Whānau set (https://campbellcarving.co.nz/te-whatu-whanau-whanau-pounamu-set/). After the original taonga went home, the sister of the mum reached out. She had seen the heart carved for her sister and felt the pull to carry…
Te Whai Kaitiaki means The Guardian Ray. I chose this name because the whai carries a quiet but powerful presence. In te ao Māori, the stingray is often seen as a kaitiaki — a guardian and protector who moves calmly beneath the surface, aware of its surroundings and ready to defend when needed. It does…
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…
This sculpture was carved to honour a man stepping into his thirties with strength, openness, and deep roots in Aotearoa. Te Pou Whirinaki speaks of someone who stands steady for others. A pillar that people lean on. A man guided by his ancestors, grounded in his whenua, and supported by the unseen threads that run…
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