This set is for a whanau. They have their maunga that they can see from their home and the skyline of it is carved into each of the toki for the set.
Some the maunga is on the front and some the back. They are all from the piece of pounamu that came from South Westland.
Here are some images of the process from the piece of pounamu through to the finished set.
This whanau will always have these pounamu to connect them with each other and where they are from.
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…
Te Pūtake o te Manawanui means the source or foundation of inner strength. I chose this name because this taonga speaks directly to resilience that is grown, carried, and lived with over time, especially through challenge. This set was commissioned as a gift for a woman who, along with her whānau, has moved through a…
I recently carved a special Toki from a stunning piece of Hapopo Pounamu, gifted to a good friend who embodies the essence of making connections with others. The stone is a bright green with darker swirls, showcasing the natural beauty of Hapopo Pounamu. This Toki is 6cm in length and features two koru carved into…
This toki is made from the rare and beautiful Marsden Flower Jade, or Putiputi. The notches in the side are for his two children. The wave is to represent the deep connection with Te Moana – The Ocean he has, particularly through waka ama. I loved carving this wave. The lines came up so clean…
Toki, traditional Maori adzes, are renowned for their strength and the skilled hands required to craft them. But sometimes, the greatest transformations occur when we surrender to nature’s artistry, as is the case with my newest piece, “Dawnlight”. This toki began its life as a humble agate, a gemstone formed within the fiery heart of…
Whānau Mauri, a toki of profound connection and essence, carved from the rare totoweka kawakawa pounamu, sourced from the Arahura River. This 5cm pendant is more than a piece of jewellery; it’s a tangible manifestation of the life force and unity that binds a family together. In the Māori language, “whānau” signifies family—a collective of…
Sign up for my newsletter and be the first to know
about new products, promotions, and more.
