Tirohanga

This piece is called Tirohanga — “A View or Perspective” — referencing the manaia’s protective gaze and the broader perspective of life and sustenance represented by the unaunahi. It’s a taonga that speaks of insight, guardianship, and awareness — a piece for someone who carries vision and sees deeply into the world around them.

This toki is a commissioned piece, carved to include specific features that held deep meaning for the person receiving it. It is made from the finest quality Marsden Flower Jade — a stone that feels alive in your hands. The base is a deep, rich translucent green, and across its surface blooms a golden flowering pattern, warm and vibrant like sunlight on deep water. It’s a piece that immediately draws your eye in and rewards you the longer you look.

On one side of the toki, I’ve carved the head of a manaia, with a single pāua shell eye set into the stone. The manaia is a spiritual guardian in Māori tradition — often seen as a kaitiaki, it represents protection, balance, and a connection between the earthly and spiritual realms. The form I’ve used here feels both ancient and alert, watching forward and beyond.

On the other side, I carved the unaunahi pattern — the design of overlapping fish scales. This symbol is associated with abundance, sustenance, and the rhythm of life tied to the ocean. For me, the pairing of the manaia and the unaunahi tells a story: of protection and provision, of guardianship over the things that nourish us, and of the ever-present connection to Tangaroa, the atua of the sea.

The toki is suspended on a three-plaited cord in a natural tan tone — a subtle complement to the warmth of the stone’s golden flowering. This cord reflects the organic feel of the taonga, keeping the focus on the stone and its story.