The Carvers

  • Te Here o te Whenua

    Te Here o te Whenua

    $1,050.00

    Te Here o te Whenua speaks of the bonds that connect us to one another and to the land beneath our feet. This matching set includes a 70mm Toki and an 80mm Kōuma carved from the same piece of Pounamu from the Whakatū region. The stone displays striking blue tones alongside earthy green rind from the outer edge of the original boulder. Finished with black lashings, the pair remains connected through the stone from which they came.

  • Te Huna o te Kōhatu

    Te Huna o te Kōhatu

    $360.00

    Te Huna o te Kōhatu, meaning The Hidden Heart of the Stone, is a 65 mm hei toki carved from beautiful tangiwai. Deep green in natural light, the stone transforms when held to the sun or another light source, revealing an extraordinary glass-like glow from within. Finished with an angled cutting edge and suspended from a black cord, this taonga carries the traditional symbolism of strength, resilience, and determination.

  • Te Kaha - Hei Matau

    Te Kaha – Hei Matau

    $400.00

    A flowing Hei Matau carved by David Curtis from deep green Kawakawa Pounamu. At 80mm long, its strong curves and defined hook reflect resilience, guidance, and inner strength.

  • Te Kaha - Mere

    Te Kaha – Mere

    $2,450.00

    This Tākiri Pounamu Mere represents strength, authority, and presence. Carved from Douglas Creek Pounamu, it measures 31cm long and 105mm wide, with finely tapered edges that allow light to pass through and reveal glowing green tones. The muka (harakeke fibre) cord adds a natural, traditional finish, and the piece is presented on a custom-fitted wooden base. A powerful and striking taonga designed for display and connection.

  • Te Kaitiaki

    Te Kaitiaki

    $900.00

    Carved by David Curtis, Te Kaitiaki is a beautifully detailed Manaia pendant measuring 90 mm long. Flowing in the shape of a roimata, the design forms an elegant bird’s head with finely carved spiral details creating the eye and sweeping beak. Finished with a traditional three-hole ring bolt lashing on a tan cord, this one-of-a-kind taonga symbolises protection, guidance, and the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.

  • Te Kaiwhakangau - Hei Matau

    Te Kaiwhakangau – Hei Matau

    $600.00

    A 70mm Hei Matau carved from Kawakawa Pounamu with a bird’s head and a notched blade. A taonga that honours the provider across land and sea.

  • Te Kākano o te Māia

    Te Kākano o te Māia

    $350.00

    Te Kākano o te Māia, meaning The Seed of Courage, is a 60 mm hei toki carved from beautiful tangiwai. With soft pale and mid-green tones flowing through the stone, it reveals remarkable translucency when held to the light, highlighting the natural patterns within the pounamu. Finished with a black cord, it is a taonga that symbolises strength, courage, and the determination to shape your own future.

  • Te Koru Mārama

    Te Koru Mārama

    $380.00

    Te Koru Mārama means “The Enlightened Spiral,” reflecting the koru’s symbolism of growth and new beginnings, and the bright clarity of this Kahurangi Pounamu. This taonga is carved from a highly translucent stone, around 50mm high, with the koru carved into the front of a tumbled pebble. I tumbled the stone in my workshop to preserve its natural flowing curves before carving into it. When held to the light, the vivid green glows, highlighting the depth and life within the stone. It is ready to wear and is a one-of-a-kind piece.

  • Te Koru o te Niho – The Strength to Grow

    Te Koru o te Niho – The Strength to Grow

    $400.00

    Carved by David Curtis from rich kawakawa pounamu, this 60 mm niho combines the enduring symbolism of the taniwha tooth with an elegant koru carved into its inner face. Suspended from a hidden hole, the design flows naturally from strength into growth, representing resilience, protection, and the ability to keep moving forward through life’s challenges.

  • Te Manu Tiaki - Mere

    Te Manu Tiaki – Mere

    $3,200.00

    Te Manu Tiaki is a full-sized Mere carved from Kawakawa Pounamu, named for the subtle manu carved into the handle. Featuring a pāua eye and gently shaped beak, the guardian figure symbolises protection, guidance, and the enduring presence of a kaitiaki.

    The stone displays rich green colouring with pale flecked patterns that evoke clouds, rain, and changing weather moving across the landscape. Measuring 36cm in length, this slim and elegant Mere carries the traditional symbolism of leadership, mana, and responsibility. Finished with a black eight-braid cord and supplied with the stand pictured.

  • Te Mārama Iti

    Te Mārama Iti

    $220.00

    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 Māramatanga Matau

    Te Māramatanga Matau

    $380.00

    Te Māramatanga is a handcrafted hei matau inspired by an historic taonga featured on the cover of one of the Pounamu Treasures books. Carved from beautifully translucent chalcedony, also known as carnelian in its orange-toned form, it displays soft cloudy patterns and warm amber highlights that glow in the light. Suspended from a white four-braid cord, this one-of-a-kind piece brings together the traditional symbolism of the hei matau with the distinctive beauty of an uncommon carving material.

  • Te Niho Mārie

    Te Niho Mārie

    $250.00

    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

    Te Niho Tupuna

    $420.00

    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

    Te Pou Taurite

    $300.00

    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 Puna Aroha – A Quiet Strength

    Te Puna Aroha – A Quiet Strength

    $210.00

    Carved by David Curtis from luminous kahurangi pounamu, this delicate 50 mm roimata is designed for effortless everyday wear. Its gently bevelled lower edge gives the pendant a refined profile, while the simple black drop-hole lashing follows the sides of the carving to complement its clean lines. A taonga that symbolises compassion, healing, resilience, and emotional strength.