Ngā Manawa E Toru

Ngā Manawa E Toru translates to “the three hearts.” This name was chosen to reflect three lives bound together by aroha, not as separate paths, but as one shared journey. It speaks to connection, protection, and the way love continues forward, even through loss.

This taonga is carved from Pounamu and stands 4cm high. Its form is defined by three gently curved lines on each face, mirrored front and back. The lines flow downward and meet toward the base, visually drawing separate elements into a single path. The shape is simple, balanced, and intentional, allowing the meaning to sit quietly within the form rather than being overstated.

The three lines hold layered meaning. They represent three hearts joined together as one, but they also reference the growth of harakeke. In a harakeke plant, the outer leaves protect the inner rito, ensuring continuity and survival. This symbolism speaks to whānau, guardianship, and the responsibility of care — the idea that life is strengthened through protection and unity.

This taonga was commissioned as a piece of remembrance and love, created for a child to carry a connection to those who came before him. The personal story behind it is held gently within the stone, without needing to be told in full. What matters is the kaupapa: love that does not disappear, lives that remain connected, and a future shaped by care and protection.

Carving Ngā Manawa E Toru was a reminder of why Pounamu holds such depth as a taonga. It allows complex emotions — grief, love, faith, and hope — to be expressed through form and material. This piece sits as a quiet anchor, close to the heart, holding three lives together in one enduring presence.