Roimata Arataki – Guiding Tear

Description

Roimata Arataki is a long roimata taonga that brings together the traditional meaning of the roimata with the guiding qualities of the manu. At 95mm long, the piece has a gentle curve through the body, creating a sense of flow and forward movement rather than stillness.

At the top, the cord hole forms an eye-like shape that narrows into a beak-like point, giving the roimata a clear bird presence without becoming literal. The form feels light, thin, and deliberate. At the base, a striking white rind remains visible, reading like a tail feather and marking the end of the form and the journey it represents.

The roimata traditionally speaks to grief, loss, healing, and emotional release. In this taonga, those meanings are reinforced by the manu, a symbol of guidance, awareness, and the ability to move between spaces. Together, they express the idea of grief that does not weigh a person down, but instead helps shape direction and understanding.

Carved from translucent serpentine Bowenite Pounamu sourced from the Tasman area, the stone is a deep forest green in normal light. When held up to the light, it becomes highly translucent, allowing you to see into the heart of the stone, where the kōrero and wairua of the taonga sit. This is a one-of-a-kind piece, suspended on a black cord and ready to wear.

Size: 95mm

Material: Pounamu/Bowenite

Location: Tasman

Carver: Campbell Potter