It started as a quiet walk on the beach. She wasn’t even looking for anything, just spending time with her husband along the West Coast shoreline. But something caught her eye—a single stone, standing out among the rest. She picked it up and brought it to me to see what could be made from it….
I found this stone myself, a smooth pebble of Serpentine Pounamu washed up on a beach here in Aotearoa. After carrying it home and cutting into it, I discovered rich layers of green and earthy brown inside, framed by a textured orange rind. I carved it into a Kōuma 8cm by 6cm, a traditional breastplate…
This set of four taonga, named Whānau Koru, was created to symbolise deep connection, whakapapa, and the strength found in whānau. Each piece carries the same etched koru design and was carved from the same piece of Pounamu to keep them physically and symbolically connected. The name Whānau Koru captures what these taonga stand for…
This 7cm Hei Toki is carved from Hapopo Pounamu, found in the rivers of South Westland. The stone is rich and dark until held to the light, where Totoweka colouring—deep reddish-browns—shines through. I finished this taonga with a black lashing and a four-braid cord, simple and strong. This piece was created as a 21st birthday…
I’ve recently completed a special set of six Pounamu carvings to go alongside a children’s book authored and published by my wife, titled I Gaze Up at the Trees with Dirt on My Knees. The book is a beautifully written story that takes tamariki on a journey through the forests and rivers of Aotearoa, meeting…
This 10cm Hei Toki is carved from blue-grey Pounamu sourced from the Nelson region. This variety of Pounamu has a calm, stormy tone to it – a mix of soft greys and subtle blue hues that give the stone a quiet strength. It has a fine-grained texture and a solid feel in the hand, with…
This commissioned set of Pounamu taonga was carved for a special occasion—the wedding of a woman with whakapapa to Te Āti Awa, marrying her Australian partner. The set was commissioned by her brother as a gift to honour their journey, their connection, and the family they have built. The name Whiria te Taura, meaning “Weave…
This set of Hei Toki, named Aho Rua, symbolises the unbreakable bond between grandfather and grandson. The name translates to ‘Two Strands’, representing the intertwined journey of both individuals—distinct yet always connected, like the woven fibres of a strong cord. Each piece was carved from the same block of Pounamu from the Nelson/Whakatū area, reinforcing…
These two Hei Toki hold a special story, one that began long before they were shaped into their final forms. Their journey started when a mother went on a trip with some of her children to Hokitika and visited Arahura where she found these stones. Something about them called to her, a deep knowing that…
I have named this Roimata Te Haeata, which means The Dawn Light. It reflects the moment when darkness gives way to light — a time of transformation, clarity, and new beginnings. This name speaks to the journey held within this taonga, carved from Kahurangi Pounamu with stunning cloud patterns that bring the story to life….
