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.
Te Mārama Iti is the small but powerful light within a person. This 15mm Kahurangi Pounamu gem symbolises inner clarity, quiet strength, and the steady guidance we carry inside ourselves. Set in an open-backed sterling silver claw setting, its translucency allows light to pass through, reflecting the meaning it holds.
Te Niho Mārie is a small Niho Taniwha taonga carved from pale green Inanga Pounamu. The Niho Taniwha form symbolises courage, guardianship, and the strength to move through life’s challenges with calm determination. At 40mm long, this piece has a beautiful glow when held to the light and features the natural skin of the original cobble on the back. It is finished with a hidden suspension and a three-plait white honey cord lashing, leaving the form clean and uninterrupted.
Te Niho Tupuna is a powerful whānau taonga carved as a Niho Taniwha from deep green Kawakawa Pounamu. The stone has beautiful depth and weight, giving the piece a strong sense of presence and mana. Soft cloudy patterning moves through the pounamu, and the edges glow beautifully when held to the light.
The taonga measures 75mm long and features a hidden lashing point, allowing the cord to sit invisibly behind the piece so the front remains clean and uninterrupted.
Te Pou Taurite means “the balanced pillar.” This wide hei toki is carved from gem-quality Kawakawa Pounamu and measures 40mm long and 40mm wide at the base, giving it a solid, grounded presence. When held to the light it glows with deep green clarity, showing the strength within the stone. The hei toki symbolises resilience, determination, and the ability to stand firm — this piece carries that meaning in a compact, balanced form.
Te Toka Pūmau is a connected set of taonga carved from a single cobble of Inanga Pounamu. The display stone forms the foundation of the set, while the Roimata and Toki were carved from the piece removed to create its base, permanently linking all three pieces through the same whakapapa of stone.
The display piece naturally resembles either a fern frond or a mountain range rising upward from the whenua. Rather than being shaped into that form, the natural contours of the cobble revealed it once the front face was polished. The Roimata and Toki both retain the natural rind on their backs, preserving the original surface of the stone while contrasting against the polished carved fronts. Together, the set represents grounding, connection, strength, and shared origins.
This Kōuma, named Te Whakaata o te Onepū or The Reflection of the Sand, symbolises inner strength and ancestral support. It’s a reminder to look deeper, to find beauty in what others might miss, and to carry quiet strength in everyday life.
This 95mm Hei Tiki is carved from beach serpentine Pounamu I sourced near Hokitika. It features a side-hanging design with paua inlaid eyes and a harakeke-coloured 4-braid cord through the arm. The deep moss green stone has tan highlights from the original skin of the stone on the face, belly, and hand. Hei Tiki are rich in tradition, symbolising whakapapa, fertility, and ancestral strength.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Y2qXqKXfWXs?si=3xK95QkL4vKKv3p-
This taonga is carved from fine-grained Pākēho limestone, sourced from the Kaikōura coast, a stone traditionally used in Aotearoa for practical tools such as fishing lures. The natural pebble shape led the carving toward the form of a tōhora (whale), with a pāua shell eye set into the stone to bring the piece to life.
This 65mm Toki is carved from Totoweka Pounamu, a beautiful variety of Kawakawa from South Westland. In natural light, it shows deep forest green tones, but when held up to the sun, a striking reddish-brown hue glows through the stone. The Toki represents strength, determination, and the will to shape and influence the world around us.
The Roimata is a taonga associated with healing, resilience, reflection, and enduring connection. Worn close to the heart, it serves as a reminder of the experiences and relationships that shape our lives. This 55mm Roimata is carved from highly translucent Kahurangi Pounamu and finished with a traditional Roimata lashing in black. Its organic form and softly textured surface highlight the natural character of the stone.
This 65mm Pounamu Hei Matau is carved from beautifully translucent light green stone, reminiscent of Kahurangi with natural inclusions that give it depth and character. The form is narrow and refined, with a subtle hook at the top and a defined spike at the base. The Hei Matau symbolises strength, prosperity, and safe travel, especially across water. It is ready to wear and is a one-of-a-kind taonga
This Triple Twist Pikorua is carved from Hapopo Pounamu from South Westland. At 90mm long, with a pointed flick at the base, it is strikingly translucent. The inner connections of the twist remain intact, symbolising unbreakable bonds. Suspended on a black cord, it carries the timeless meaning of connection, loyalty, and eternity.
This 90mm Roimata is carved from dark grey Urirui Pākohe, known for its depth of colour and subtle grain. Long and slender, it’s finished with a black spiral lashing that complements the stone’s natural strength. A striking taonga that feels both grounded and refined.
Whakatau is a compact Kawakawa Pounamu toki carved at 40mm long, with a distinctive cloudy pattern flowing across the front of the stone. The name Whakatau means to settle, decide, or bring resolution, and was chosen to reflect the calm, grounded presence of the stone. Finished with a clean black lashing, this is a simple, strong taonga designed to sit close to the body.
Whakatipu is a Raukaraka Pounamu Hei Tiki, carved in the traditional groove style. Its golden-orange hues give it a rich, warm presence. A taonga of deep ancestral connection and meaning.
See the full story and video here.
This unique whatuaho (greywacke) pendant, crafted from a West Coast beach pebble, showcases the natural beauty of the stone. Measuring 6cm long, it features a tan lashing with a ringbolt lashing style using half hitches across three holes at the top.
