Tātau Whānau

Tātau Whānau means “our family” or “all of us as a family.” I chose this name because these taonga come from a single slice of Pounamu that has travelled through generations of their Ngāi Tahu whānau. The name makes the meaning explicit: this stone has always belonged to the collective. By becoming a roimata and a gold-set ring, it now continues that story in two forms, still united by the same origin.

This set began with a deep green piece of Kawakawa Pounamu that her uncle found many years ago. He later had it cut into twelve slices, each one holding its own future within each family of that generation. She received one of those slices as a keepsake, and together she and her husband felt the time was right to turn it into taonga they could wear and carry. Being trusted with stone that already carries decades of family history is something I take seriously, and I wanted the carving to reflect their connection to this piece.

For her, I shaped a roimata about 55 millimetres long. The stone had a beautiful depth to it, and the gentle taper and soft curves gave the piece a calm, balanced feel. The polished surface and the black lashing help the natural movement in the Kawakawa stand out. It sits comfortably when held and rests easily when worn.

For him, a pendant didn’t feel right. They wanted something that matched who he was, so I carved a long, rectangular cabochon from the same slice. It was then set into a solid 9-carat gold signet ring. The deep green of the Pounamu and the warmth of the gold complement each other strongly. The polished gold frames the stone cleanly, creating a piece that carries the same whakapapa as the roimata but in a form that suits him.

Working on this set felt meaningful. Taking a keepsake from her father and shaping it into two taonga for them both honours where the stone has come from and where it is going. These pieces now hold their own place in the ongoing story of their whānau.