Te Piringa Aroha

This set of taonga is called Te Piringa Aroha — “The Shelter of Love.” It was carved from Kawakawa Pounamu sourced from the Arahura River, a stone known for its grounding energy and deep green colour, often linked with healing and connection.

The porohita is 5cm wide and features a 3-hole ringbolt lashing across the top. It symbolises wholeness, continuity, and the never-ending cycle of life — a reminder that even through grief, love endures. The tapatoru breastplate is 4cm high and held with a 5-hole ringbolt lashing. The triangular form rests close to the heart and symbolises resilience, strength, and the grounding support of those who stand beside us.

These taonga were commissioned by a father for his son and daughter-in-law. They’ve recently faced an incredibly difficult moment — one that reaches deep into the core of human experience. While the specifics of their loss are private, what stands clear is the love this father holds for them and his hope that these pieces might offer more than words ever could.

Each shape was chosen carefully: the porohita to hold space for unity and memory, the breastplate to symbolise inner strength. Together, they speak of endurance through pain, of love that stands strong even when broken open, and of a future still worth walking towards.

The Kawakawa Pounamu itself carries a quiet power. It’s a stone that seems to absorb, hold, and reflect. My hope is that as these are worn close to the heart, they can become anchors — a shelter, just as the name suggests.

This was a special set to create. Sometimes the greatest gift Pounamu can offer is simply to carry meaning that can’t be spoken aloud. Te Piringa Aroha is a quiet expression of that.