Te Aho Tuku Iho

Te Aho Tuku Iho means “The Continuing Line”. I chose this name for this pair of niho because they represent the connection between a father and his son, and the whakapapa, strength and values that continue from one generation to the next. Carved from the same piece of Pounamu, they are two individual taonga with a connection that begins in the stone itself.

This commission was created as a Father’s Day gift. The idea was to carve a larger niho for the father and a smaller one for his son. They share the same form and Pounamu, but each has its own size and character, reflecting their relationship while still allowing each taonga to stand on its own.

The niho is a strong form traditionally associated with the teeth of animals such as the mangō. It carries meanings of strength, courage, resilience and protection. For the son, this symbolism has another layer of significance, as the meaning behind his name has a connection to the mangō-taniwha. The niho therefore connects not only with his father, but with something that has been part of his own identity since he was named.

Carving both niho from the same piece of Pounamu was an important part of the kaupapa. Although the stone has now become two separate taonga, they retain that physical connection. For me, this works particularly well for a father and son. They share whakapapa and whānau, but each has his own path to follow.

The difference in size reinforces this idea. The larger niho represents the father and the smaller his son. I like the idea of the father’s strength, guidance and protection providing a foundation for his son as he grows, while the son develops his own strength and identity.

Te Aho Tuku Iho is ultimately about that continuing connection between generations. These two niho began as one piece of Pounamu and now carry the same stone with two different people. It was a meaningful set to carve, particularly knowing that the form, the stone and the story behind them all contribute to the connection between father and son.