Tūhonoa – Bound Together

This set of Pounamu, named Tūhonoa (To Be Bound Together), was carved for a couple who wanted something to embody the strength of their connection. The name draws from “tūhono” meaning to join or connect, and “-a” to give it a passive and enduring quality – something that is bound, joined, united. It speaks to the invisible threads that bind two people together – the emotional, spiritual, and intuitive ties that cannot be seen but are deeply felt. One a 70mm Toki, the other a 60mm Roimata, both carved from a single slice of Pounamu with swirling patterns of dark and lighter greens. Though the shapes are different, they carry the same origins and the same purpose: to make real and lasting something that is otherwise invisible and intangible.

We often speak of love, loyalty, and connection as things we feel deeply, yet cannot see or hold. This pair of taonga was created as a way to honour those emotions, to give form to what so often guides our decisions and shapes our lives. The Pounamu itself, with its depth and movement, feels alive – a perfect vessel to carry something as ephemeral and powerful as love.

The Toki carries with it the traditional symbolism of strength, courage, and determination. Originally shaped as an adze blade, the Toki was a tool of great value – used in carving, building, and shaping the world around us. To wear one is to carry that spirit of action and resolve.

The Roimata, or tear drop, represents healing, empathy, and comfort. It speaks of shared understanding and deep feeling, a reminder that strength is not only about action but also about connection, vulnerability, and support.

Because both taonga come from the same slice of Pounamu, the connection between them is not just symbolic but inherent in the Pounamu itself. It is a way of saying, “we are of the same essence, shaped by our own paths, but always linked.”

This was a deeply meaningful set to carve. Giving shape to something as powerful as emotion, and letting the natural beauty of Pounamu carry it forward, felt like a true privilege.