I’m Campbell Potter, a New Zealander of European descent living in Christchurch. I’ve spent the last ten years learning to carve Pounamu, alongside my work as a teacher. These days, I carve full time from my small workshop at home. I do everything myself—from finding and cutting the stone to shaping, polishing, lashing, and photographing each piece. For me, carving is about connection. Each taonga I make carries meaning, whether it’s a story, a memory, or something to anchor a moment in time. I create taonga to be worn, gifted, and passed on.
This striking Kawakawa Pounamu silver ring features a smooth triangular (tapatoru) cabochon carved by hand and set in sterling silver. The stone is 16mm wide with rich green depth. The silver setting was custom designed by M.V.H Jewellery using the ancient lost wax casting method. Three organic silver claws hold the stone in place, weaving around it like flowing vines. A unique and powerful taonga.
This 50mm Roimata is carved from serpentine sourced from the Tasman area, a stone full of contrast and depth. The dark, deep greens are broken by pale green mottling and small traces of oxidised orange rind, giving the piece strong character and presence. Shaped with a firm, almost toki-like edge at the base, this Roimata carries a sense of strength and steadiness. Finished with a black Roimata lashing, it is a grounded and resilient taonga.
This captivating rectangle pendant is a beautiful example of pounamu carving. The translucent green stone is imbued with deep meaning and modern elegance. The rectangle form symbolizes solidity, consistency, and discipline.
Manu Huia is a carved huia feather made from dark green serpentine from the Nelson–Tasman area. It has an opaque white rind naturally forming the pale feather tip, creating a striking contrast. The stone appears almost black until held to the light, where its translucency reveals the depth and patterning within. This taonga symbolises dignity, respect, and the carrying of legacy, echoing the mana of the original huia feather. It is 95mm long and finished with a black lashing.
This crescent moon Pounamu taonga represents Marama, symbolising cycles, renewal, and guidance through change. Carved from mid forest green Pounamu with darker patterning, it is 45mm long and quietly grounded in form and meaning.
Māramatanga is a roimata made from highly translucent Kahurangi Pounamu. The name Māramatanga means clarity, understanding, and illumination, chosen to reflect how easily light passes through the stone, revealing its inner depth. This piece was shaped through tumbling in my workshop, giving the surface a natural texture and strong character, and is finished with a simple black lashing.
These earrings are carved from bright green Marsden Flower Jade, known for its vivid colour and striking translucency. Shaped into wide crescent moons, each 35mm long (excluding the hooks), they glow with light and life. A unique, one-of-a-kind pair that connects the beauty of Pounamu with the elegance of celestial design.
These 70mm Marsden Flower Jade Pounamu earrings are carved from deep dark green stone with beautiful flower-like inclusions appearing near the base. The design tapers toward the top with four subtle flat sides and softly rounded edges, finishing in a smooth curved base. The natural Putiputi patterning gives each earring unique character and depth.
This 50mm Roimata is carved from Marsden Flower Jade with rich green colour and golden flowering throughout. The base is fully rounded, giving the piece a smooth, flowing form. With a curved front and flat back, it’s suspended by a simple hole on a black cord — a timeless and meaningful taonga.
This 90mm taonga is carved from Marutea Pakohe, a dense and fine-grained form of argillite. Tapered at both ends with flowing curves, it’s lashed with a black spiral binding. The Roimata form symbolises healing, connection, and the release of emotion. This piece carries the grounded strength of Pakohe, treasured by Māori for generations as a tool and taonga stone.
A full-sized 36cm x 12cm mere carved from Kawakawa Pounamu from Hokitika. Bound with traditional muka cord. A powerful symbol of mana and leadership. Read the full story at: https://campbellcarving.co.nz/mere-pounamu-te-whakamana
A large palm-sized serpentine cobble with deep mottled greens and striking lighter green patterning throughout. One side has been polished to reveal the detail within the stone, while the natural outer surface still shows translucent green bands running through the edge.
Whanaunga is a set of two taonga — a Toki and a Roimata — carved from the same piece of deep green serpentine Pounamu from the Nelson area. Each is 60mm long, with a black lashing. Their shared origin symbolises enduring connection — two pieces that were one for countless years, now carrying that bond into the lives of those who wear them.
The niho, or tooth design, symbolises strength, protection, and determination — a reminder of resilience and the courage to face challenges. This Niho Kaha is carved from rich dark green Kawakawa Pounamu with a streak of the stone’s pale rind along one side. Measuring 85mm long, it features a three-hole ringbolt lashing in black with a four-braid cord.
This 90mm Inanga Pounamu niho, Niho Marino, features creamy green tones, pale feathering, and a subtle inner shimmer. Symbolising protection and strength, it’s finished with a three-hole ringbolt lashing in black and a four-braid cord.
A 60mm niho carved from dark Akaroa ōnewa basalt, featuring natural inclusions and a hidden hole lashing for a clean, uninterrupted front face. A taonga of strength and resilience.
