Toki Māramatanga

This piece is named Toki Māramatanga, meaning “clarity” or “enlightenment.” It began as a beach pebble – a raw, beautiful piece of Tangiwai Pounamu, found and brought to me by a customer. The stone had already been shaped by the sea and time, with a strikingly translucent, glassy surface that made it special. The customer asked for a natural toki form – a pendant that would honour the original shape and beauty of the stone, while refining it into a wearable taonga.

Tangiwai is the most transparent form of Pounamu. Its name translates to “tears on the water” and it carries deep emotional significance. Traditionally, Tangiwai is linked to clarity of thought and feeling, the ability to process change, and the strength found in vulnerability. It’s a stone that reflects light and emotion, often appearing to glow when held up.

We chose the Hei Toki shape – the form of an adze blade once used as a tool of carving and building. The toki symbolises strength, courage, and the ability to take action. By shaping this stone into a toki, we give it purpose while preserving its natural lines and the story it already carried from the beach.

Toki Māramatanga is a quiet and reflective taonga. It carries the strength of the toki, and the insight of Tangiwai – a reminder that clarity often comes from within, shaped by time and experience.