Kotahi te Pūtake

Kotahi te Pūtake means “One Source”, a name that reflects the kaupapa behind this set of five hei toki. Each taonga is individual, but all five come from the same piece of Pounamu and carry the same marks representing three generations of one whānau.

This set was commissioned by a mother for herself, her husband and their three children. Her parents immigrated from Ireland to Aotearoa around 1958, beginning a new chapter for their family here. Her mother spoke Irish and was involved in helping establish the first kōhanga reo in Aotearoa.

Today, the three children are spread across three different countries. These taonga were created as a reminder that although members of a whānau may live a long way from each other, their connection and shared history remain.

Each toki has seven notches along its sides. Two represent the grandparents, two represent the parents, and three represent the children. Importantly, every toki carries all seven marks. Wherever each person goes, their taonga carries a representation of the whole whānau with them.

I carved all five from a single piece of South Westland Pounamu. It has a deep kawakawa colour, with beautiful variation through the stone and reddish tones that become more apparent when held to the light. Keeping the taonga together within one piece of Pounamu was an important part of the commission. They have now become five separate pieces, but they still share the same source.

The five toki are closely related in their form without being identical. Each has its own slightly different āhua and character. I like that variation within a set like this. They clearly belong together, while still having an individual appearance suited to the different people who will wear them.

The toki is traditionally associated with strength, courage, determination and leadership. For Kotahi te Pūtake, those meanings sit alongside the deeper kaupapa of whakapapa and connection. The shared Pounamu and seven notches bring three generations together within each taonga.

This was a special set to carve because its meaning comes through so clearly in the finished pieces. Five individual toki, each with its own āhua, all from one source and each carrying the same representation of the whānau.