Classic Toki
A great example of a simple and elegant Toki
A great example of a simple and elegant Toki







Te Maunga Nui is a large toki, 95mm long, carved from richly coloured Kawakawa Pounamu from South Westland. It was commissioned by a mother for her son, who also happens to be an old friend of mine. Creating a taonga for someone I’ve shared parts of life with made this piece extra special. The name,…
I love the idea of suspending a taonga, special stone that has been beautifully shaped from your neck. Sometimes you can incorporate a hole into the design to hang it from, sometimes you need to drill one just for the purpose. I really prefer keeping the carving as intact as possible, for me it feels…
This set of taonga was made for a husband and wife from a striking piece of Kawakawa Pounamu. The stone has incredible swirling character, deep greens with complex patterns that hold your attention the longer you look. The first piece was commissioned by the husband to celebrate a major personal milestone: 500 voluntary trail building…
This bright green Raukaraka Pounamu Toki is 80mm long and 45mm wide, carved with softly curved sides and a broad, bold shape that gives it real presence. Hints of orange run through the stone, adding warmth and variation to the vibrant green. The lashing is a rich harakeke-coloured cord, contrasting beautifully with the stone and…
This is how I tie my pounamu toki bindings with pendants that have a hole. It makes a really nice tight, flush binding. I use 1mm waxed braid for the cord. [kad_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KmjB47c9Mg” ] Check out the other posts on the tutorial page for how to tie a whipping and if you want…
These two Hei Toki hold a special story, one that began long before they were shaped into their final forms. Their journey started when a mother went on a trip with some of her children to Hokitika and visited Arahura where she found these stones. Something about them called to her, a deep knowing that…