Kōuma Whānau – Family Anchor

This piece is named Kōuma Whānau, a fitting name for such a deeply significant taonga. The Kōuma (anchor) traditionally symbolises stability, grounding, and strength, much like an anchor keeps a waka steady through changing tides. In this case, it represents the foundation of the family, its roots planted firmly in the past but holding strong through the present and into the future.

The stone was gifted to the man who commissioned it by his grandfather shortly before he passed away, adding an extra layer of meaning. It’s not just a stone—it’s a connection to the past, to family stories, and to memories shared over time. Naming it Kōuma Whānau honours this connection and symbolises the strength and unity of their whānau across generations.

When carving this piece, I carefully chose how to slice the stone to ensure it would continue its journey in the best way possible. The resulting taonga is a large, 10cm-wide Kōuma with a double koru at the bottom, the heads touching, which speaks to the cyclical nature of life and family. Each unfurling koru represents another generation, another chapter in their family’s story.

It’s been an honour to take this stone on the next stage of its journey—its hearenga—turning it into a taonga that the family can wear and pass down, carrying with it the mana and aroha of those who came before.