Ngā Rau Huia o te Whānau

I carved these four huia feather pendants for members of one whānau, using pounamu from the same piece of Tasman serpentine. Each pendant has the same design and kaupapa, giving the wearers a shared connection through the stone and the form, while each one is carried by a different person.

Huia feathers were treasured adornments associated with mana and rangatiratanga. A huia plume worn upright on the forehead could also describe someone who stands out for their distinctive qualities. I wanted the four pendants to carry that sense of distinction while also speaking to whānau: each person has their own identity and strengths, and they remain connected through the family they share.

The pounamu has a beautiful white rind, which I used to form the tips of the feathers. It echoes the huia’s distinctive white-tipped plumage. Each pendant is about 40 millimetres long, with a gentle glow when held to the light. They’re finished with black cord and a rimu mata lashing, ready to wear every day.

It was a pleasure to carve a set of taonga from one stone, with a design that brings the whānau together while giving each person their own piece to wear.