Te Mauri o te Whānau — The Life Force of the Family

This pair of Tangiwai Hei Toki began as a single stone held by one whānau for decades. Before these stones were passed on through future generations, the decision was made to transform them into taonga that could continue that journey through the people who would wear them. One Hei Toki was created for her son, while the other remains connected to the wider whānau, carrying their shared history and connection forward.

Tangiwai has always felt like a special stone to work with, and this was some of the most stunning Tangiwai I have had the pleasure to carve. In natural light these pieces appear dark and deep, but when held to the light they completely transform, revealing translucent greens and blues within the stone. It really was a pleasure seeing these taonga reveal themselves throughout the carving process as the inner beauty of the stone slowly emerged.

Originally, we explored incorporating the moko of one of her tūpuna into the carving. But as I worked the stone, it became clear that this particular Tangiwai was too delicate for that kind of deeper carving work. Tangiwai forms in fibrous layers, and pushing too far into the material risked damaging the integrity of the taonga. In the end, we chose to leave them simple, allowing the stone itself and the meaning behind the pieces to speak for themselves.

I have included photos of the original Tangiwai cobble alongside images from the carving process through to the finished taonga. I always enjoy showing that journey — from raw stone through to finished taonga — especially when the material already carries such a long connection to the people it belongs to.

The Hei Toki form symbolises strength, resilience, determination, and the ability to shape one’s own path. Combined with the history carried within this Tangiwai, these taonga now continue that story forward for generations to come.