Kaha Mārō
This 10cm Hei Toki is carved from blue-grey Pounamu sourced from the Nelson region. This variety of Pounamu has a calm, stormy tone to it – a mix of soft greys and subtle blue hues that give the stone a quiet strength. It has a fine-grained texture and a solid feel in the hand, with a natural, unpolished resilience to it.
I’ve named this piece Kaha Mārō – which means strong and unyielding. This name reflects the qualities carried by both the stone and the Hei Toki design.
The Hei Toki is a traditional form based on the adze blade. Originally a tool used by Māori for shaping, building, and carving, it came to symbolise strength, authority, and leadership. It represents the ability to shape the world around you through effort and intent.
Combined with this particular Pounamu, Kaha Mārō speaks to a grounded kind of strength – quiet but firm, enduring but not rigid. It’s the kind of strength that keeps going when things get tough.
