Te Marama Tangiwai

Some boulders just call to me. I found this one on the beach and had a feeling it might hold something special inside. Each cut was a surprise—what looked like an ordinary rock on the outside revealed incredible colours within. Then, when I held it up to the light, it truly came alive.

This is a stunning piece of Tangiwai Pounamu, also known as Bowenite. The depth of colour, from golden yellows to deep greens and rich browns, is breathtaking. To showcase its natural glow, I carved it into a wide Roimata, a shape that flows with the stone’s patterns and lets the light shine through.

I documented the entire process in a video—from finding the boulder on the beach, cutting it open, and discovering the glow, to shaping and finishing the 65mm Roimata. Watching the transformation unfold was an incredible journey, and I love how this piece turned out.

I’ve named this piece “Te Marama Tangiwai” – “The Tangiwai Moon.” The way it glows in the light reminds me of the moon rising over the horizon, shifting between golden and green hues like moonlight through mist. It also connects to the traditional significance of Tangiwai, meaning “tears” in te reo Māori, often linked to the tears of the moon.

This is what I love about carving Pounamu—unlocking the beauty hidden within each stone and giving it a new life as a taonga.

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