Niho Marino

This stunning niho has been carved from a top-quality piece of Inanga Pounamu, named for the whitebait of our rivers. I’ve named this taonga Niho Marino, which translates to “Calm Tooth.” The name reflects both the peaceful, pale tones of the stone and the quiet strength symbolised by the niho form. It speaks to resilience that doesn’t shout – strength that rests in stillness.

It’s a long, narrow pendant, 90mm tall and just 30mm across at the top, with a clean symmetrical form that takes inspiration from the niho, or tooth. The niho symbolises protection, strength, and determination – qualities that continue to resonate through taonga like this in te ao Māori.

The Pounamu itself is truly special. On one side, it carries a soft, creamy green colour that speaks to the gentle tones of high-grade Inanga. On the other, you can see pale feathering patterns near the skin of the stone, almost white, as if clouds were swirling across its surface. There’s a silky shimmer in the light – a chatoyant flash that’s incredibly hard to capture on camera, so you might just have to take my word for it. It’s one of those stones that seems to glow from within.

At the top, I used a three-hole ringbolt lashing in black cord, paired with a 4-braid necklace to make it ready to wear. The lashing holds the symmetry of the piece and allows the eye to flow straight into the clean lines of the niho.

Carving this taonga was a joy. There’s something deeply satisfying about shaping a piece of stone like this, where every angle and surface works with the stone’s natural beauty. I wanted to honour the Pounamu and let the stone speak