Arotahi – Hei Matau

This taonga is called Hei Matau Arotahi. Arotahi means focus, and this piece was created as a guiding reminder for a young man to keep his focus on the path ahead — a path of respect, manaakitanga, rangatiratanga, and calm strength. The Hei Matau symbolises journey, provision, and safe passage, and in this taonga it carries the added kaupapa of keeping steady and true in all interactions, choosing words and actions that propel life forward.

The stone itself is an exceptional piece of Pounamu, very dark green in colour, almost black at first glance. When light shines through, however, it reveals a stunning, glowing green — one of the finest, highest-grade Pounamu I have worked with. The grain is extremely fine and consistent, making it both a challenge and a privilege to carve. It held a sharp edge beautifully and allowed me to create a very delicate point at the end of the Hei Matau.

The form itself has depth, almost three-dimensional in the way the curve of the hook turns up and out at its end. This extra dimension symbolises that life, too, works on many levels — there is always more than one way to view a journey, more than one lesson to carry forward. The taonga is finished with a black lashing, simple and strong, grounding the piece.

Hei Matau Arotahi was bestowed as a gift from a father to his son, a reminder for him to walk steadily with calmness, humility, and strength, and to let those values guide him through his life. For me, it was a privilege to shape such a high-grade stone into a piece carrying such a meaningful kaupapa — a taonga to anchor a young man to his values and his future journey.