Tūturu

I have named this Toki Tūturu, a word that speaks to something real, authentic, and lasting. This name reflects what the Toki was and still is — a working tool made to shape the world, built with purpose and strength. The name reminds us of the ingenuity and resilience of our ancestors, and the tools they created with their hands to survive and thrive in Aotearoa.

This Toki is carved from Marsden Flower Jade, or Putiputi Pounamu, a stone known for its deep green and golden patterns. I shaped this piece in the form of the ancient working Toki used by Māori when stone tools were essential for building and creating. These were not ornamental — they were made to be used, to cut and carve, to build whare, waka, and taonga.

Pounamu was the strongest material available, prized because it could take and hold an edge, lasting longer than anything else. Shaping a Toki like this in ancient times was a massive effort, grinding the stone down over weeks and months with hoanga (sandstone) and water, always by hand.

This Toki stands as a symbol of real work — Tūturu. It holds the mana of the Māori people and speaks to the way of life that demanded patience, skill, and strength. It reminds us of the connection to the whenua, to the forests and rivers where these tools were used to shape life itself.

I have used an earthy green lashing to tie this piece, reflecting the connection to the land and the practical nature of this design. The binding holds the Toki firm, just as whānau and whakapapa hold us strong.

Tūturu is a taonga that reflects the heart of Māori ingenuity — a working tool that is real, honest, and enduring. It connects us to the old ways, reminding us that strength and resilience are at the core of who we are.