Te Here Aroha – A Pounamu Whānau Set

I have named this set Te Here Aroha, meaning “the bond of love”. The name reflects the enduring connection between a mother and her two daughters. Even when they are apart, they remain bound together through their shared aroha, strength and identity as a whānau.

This set was commissioned by the mother after the three of them had been through a difficult year. She wanted each of them to carry something that reminded them they were never facing life alone. All three taonga were carved from the same piece of South Westland pounamu, creating a physical connection between them wherever they may be.

The set includes two roimata for the daughters and a koru for their mother. Roimata are associated with comfort, healing and strength through difficult times. Their flowing form also represents the release of sadness and the support that helps us continue moving forward. The mother’s koru represents growth, renewal and the care she continues to provide for her daughters.

The same symbol is carved into all three taonga. It contains three koru, with one larger koru curving over the top to represent the mother and two smaller koru sitting beneath it for her daughters. The design shows the mother protecting and supporting them while also recognising each daughter as an individual growing along her own path.

Pounamu carries ideas of connection, strength and whakapapa. Because these three pieces came from one stone, they will always share the same origin. This gives the set an added meaning: separation does not break their connection. Each person can draw strength from the others and carry the aroha of their whānau with them.

The South Westland pounamu has a beautiful combination of translucent and more opaque areas, giving each taonga its own appearance while clearly showing that they belong together. The two roimata are suspended from black cords with traditional lashings, while the koru is finished with a seven-hole ring-bolt lashing.

It was meaningful to carve this set and bring the story of this mother and her daughters into the stone. Te Here Aroha is a reminder of what they have already faced together and of the love, protection and strength that will continue to connect them.