This is a set made for a couple that are both having a 21st this year. Two pendants that are connected by the shared designs and meaning that they hold.
The design represent them and their child. Simple, effective and meaningful.
The toki, a traditional Māori adze, holds a significant place in Aotearoa’s history. More than just a tool, the toki was essential to Māori life pre-colonization, used for shaping wood for everything from waka (canoes) to whare (houses). It symbolized strength, authority, and connection to ancestors and the land. I am honored to present “Toki…
I’m pleased to share one of my creations, a large Pounamu Toki carved from Kawakawa Pounamu sourced from the sacred Arahura River. This piece stands out not only for its size—an impressive 85mm in length—but also for its unique features and deep symbolism. I’ve named this piece Whakairo Tūmanako, which means “Carving Hope.” I chose…
This set was a privilege to work on and create. The design and significance that went into this piece was deep and meaningful. I called this set Te Waenga as it fully represents the deep significance of the space between people and a strong yet invisible connection can be nurtured here. This set represents this…
This set is for a whanau. They have their maunga that they can see from their home and the skyline of it is carved into each of the toki for the set. Some the maunga is on the front and some the back. They are all from the piece of pounamu that came from South…
I recently completed this meaningful commission for a father whose whānau wanted to gift him a taonga that symbolises his role within their family. The piece is a 6cm Toki carved from rich green Kawakawa Pounamu, sourced from the South Island of New Zealand. Kawakawa Pounamu is prized for its deep, even green hues with…
This is a project long time in the making. I carved and finished the Pounamu the start of 2015 and it was presented for the first time at the end of 2016. It is a collaboration between myself, a student at my school, and the Maori/Technology teacher. I did the Pounamu and they together did…