This is a hoi a made for a previous colleague that has just left the school we worked at together. The hoi is very appropriate and symbolic for the campus he worked at. They use a metaphor of paddling in a waka in how the staff work together as well as for the learning journey…
In the embrace of the West Coast’s wild beauty, the Arahura River carves its way through the land, nurturing the Kawa Kawa Pounamu with its pure waters. It is here we find Ngā Taonga Tūhono, “Treasures that Connect”, a set of pendants that embodies the convergence of Māori and Gaelic kaupapa within its carved forms….
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 toki has the sail symbol from the Tokelau flag. It is a taonga to connect the owner with where they are from as well as with where they are now.
I had the privilege of carving a special set of Pounamu, named Tatau Pounamu, commissioned by a father for himself and his children. “Tatau Pounamu” translates to “The Unbroken Bond,” symbolising the unbreakable connection between the father and his children, who live with their mother. Despite the distance, these pendants serve as a reminder of…
The phrase “Tū Kotahi” in Māori means “standing together as one”. It’s the perfect name for the special set of toki I recently had the privilege to carve for a father and son in France. The toki is a traditional Māori taonga (treasure) pendant, shaped like an adze, a woodworking tool important in our culture….
