This is a piece I designed based on a pre European toki that was used for carving. I love the old shapes and simple elegance they have.
It is now with a good friend of mine in Germany. An important piece of New Zealand he can carry with him now.
The toki, a traditional Māori adze, holds a significant place in Aotearoa’s history. More than just a tool, the toki was essential to Māori life pre-colonization, used for shaping wood for everything from waka (canoes) to whare (houses). It symbolized strength, authority, and connection to ancestors and the land. I am honored to present “Toki…
Recently, I had the privilege of carving a unique and deeply meaningful set of taonga Pounamu for a father and his three children. This set, which I’ve named Ngā Hononga Whakakaha (Strengthening Bonds), symbolises the unbreakable connection between them, despite the challenges of living in different countries. These taonga represent love, strength, and the effort…
I is a special commission where I had the honour of working with a block of Pounamu passed down through a family for generations. The client felt it was time to transform this cherished stone into something their whānau could wear and treasure. From this pale green Inanga Pounamu, with its stunning black mineral inclusions,…
I recently completed this meaningful commission for a father whose whānau wanted to gift him a taonga that symbolises his role within their family. The piece is a 6cm Toki carved from rich green Kawakawa Pounamu, sourced from the South Island of New Zealand. Kawakawa Pounamu is prized for its deep, even green hues with…
Traditional inganga toki, about 8cm long. I really like the character the seams and healed fractures add to this piece. They look really good with the honey coloured lashing too. It is always interesting to see the transformation from a rough block of pounamu into the finished toki.
This Toki is full of significance and meaning. A 21st gift for a young man that is loved and cares for others. The main concepts are of the toki itself to represent the leadership and courage it takes to stand up and be yourself. The wave on the front represents the outdoors as well as…
