Jasper Quartz Niho

Jasper Quartz Niho

Kia ora! I’m always excited about my carving projects, but a recent commission held a unique energy. A client entrusted me with a magnificent piece of brecciated jasper quartz that they’d found on their own land in the North Island. This wasn’t pounamu, but the stone’s raw beauty and its connection to their whenua (land)…

Whānau Taonga
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Whānau Taonga

Here at Campbell Carving, I believe pounamu is more than just a beautiful stone; it’s a vessel for stories and a powerful symbol of connection. Today, I want to share a particularly heartwarming project – a family pounamu set crafted from a single piece of pounamu from the South Westland region. I called this Whānau…

Cobble to Taonga
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Cobble to Taonga

At Campbell Carving, we’re constantly amazed by the natural wonders that come through our doors. Recently, a customer brought in a pounamu cobble they found on the beach. What appeared to be an unassuming stone held a hidden treasure trove of colour inside! This particular pounamu revealed stunning shades of green, ranging from deep emerald…

Manawa Riri – Pakohe
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Manawa Riri – Pakohe

This striking breastplate pendant, named Manawa Riri (Heart of Courage or Fighting Spirit), is carved from a beautiful piece of light grey pakohe, sourced from the Nelson region. Pakohe, or argillite, is a fine-grained mudstone highly prized by Māori for its durability and ability to take a sharp edge. This name reflects the strength of…

Koru Whanau

Koru Whanau

The koru is a powerful symbol in Maori culture, representing growth, new beginnings, and the unfurling fern frond. It’s a fitting image for a taonga pounamu (treasured greenstone) carving, a piece imbued with deep meaning and cultural significance. This piece is called ‘Koru Whanau’. This particular koru whanau carving, crafted from Marsden Kawakawa pounamu, is…

Kawakawa Cross

Kawakawa Cross

Pounamu, the treasured greenstone of New Zealand, holds deep spiritual and cultural significance. When carved into a cross, a timeless symbol of faith and spirituality, its power and beauty take on an even greater depth. I’d like to share my latest creation, a beautiful cross pendant carved from a rich, deep block of kawakawa pounamu….

Akaroa Toki – Basalt

Akaroa Toki – Basalt

Basalt, a dense volcanic rock, has played a vital role in human history, its strength and durability shaping tools and structures across civilizations. In Aotearoa (New Zealand), basalt was a prized material for Māori artisans, particularly for crafting toki (adzes). Recently, I had the honor of carving a toki from a piece of basalt sourced…

Totoweka Tapatoru

Totoweka Tapatoru

Pounamu, or greenstone, is a taonga (treasure) in Māori culture, revered for its beauty and deep connection to the natural world. Today, I’m thrilled to share a unique piece – a pounamu tapatoru I crafted from totoweka, a rare and captivating type of pounamu found in the South Westland region of New Zealand. Totoweka is…

Akaroa Basalt Toki

Akaroa Basalt Toki

Basalt, a dense and hard volcanic rock, has been a prized material for carving throughout New Zealand’s history. Its strength and durability made it ideal for both tools and adornments. I recently had the privilege of carving a toki (adze) from a piece of basalt sourced near Akaroa, a beautiful harbor town on the Banks…