Whitiwhiti Ara – Interwoven Paths

The Pikorua symbolises the way our lives interweave — paths that cross, separate, and reconnect. Whether between friends, whānau, or loved ones, it reminds us that distance or time may shift us apart, yet our bonds remain. We travel our own ways, but our journeys are never truly separate; they loop and return, bound by shared experience and aroha.

I’ve named this taonga Whitiwhiti Ara, meaning “interwoven pathways.” It speaks to the essence of this design — the crossings, the moments apart, and the inevitable return. Carving this piece reminded me how our connections endure through change, just as the layers of colour in this stone hold their own beauty yet belong to one whole.

This taonga is a Pikorua, or triple twist, carved from Raukaraka Pounamu. It’s a striking piece that captures the beauty of connection through its form and its colours — deep green heart stone at the base, soft pale greens through the centre, and the warm orange rind at the top where the tan cord is bound. The three distinct tones are the result of natural oxidation over time, each layer revealing a different stage in the stone’s journey.

At 95mm long, this piece showcases high-quality Pounamu with incredible variation — a translucent heart, flecked greens, and the rich golden rind that gives Raukaraka its name. The pointed flick of the tail at the base gives the design a sense of movement, like the twisting paths of life it represents.