Te Whao Roimata

Description

Te Whao Roimata – The tears of the chisel. For the wearer, this name represents the marks life leaves behind — the effort, pressure, and quiet persistence that shape who you become. Like a chisel working into stone, each experience leaves its trace. Some are sharp, some are subtle, but all contribute to the person you carry forward.

This Roimata is a reminder that those marks are not flaws — they are evidence of growth, of creation, of becoming. The “tears” are not only of hardship, but of meaning. They speak to the moments that have mattered enough to leave an imprint.

Carved from deep Kawakawa Pounamu, the stone holds a richness that feels grounded and steady. At the base, a small section of natural rind remains visible, anchoring the piece to its origins and reflecting the importance of where you come from. Through the centre, a soft cloud-like inclusion sits within the stone — a quiet, internal feature that mirrors the parts of ourselves that are not always seen, but deeply felt.

The form of the piece reinforces this story. A strong curve at the top leads into a bold, carved hole and groove, drawing the cord down into the body of the Roimata. It gives the sense of something being carried through you — experiences, lessons, and meaning — flowing downward and settling into who you are. The base finishes in a subtle, angled edge, echoing the cutting nature of the whao, the tool that shapes.

For the wearer, this taonga becomes a companion to that journey. It is a reminder that you are shaped by what you go through, but also by how you respond to it. That your strength comes not from avoiding pressure, but from what you create through it.

This is a piece about owning your story, carrying it with you, and recognising that every mark has helped shape something of value.

Size: 85mm

Material: Kawakawa Pounamu/Nephrite

Location: Hokitika

Carver: David Curtis