Whetu – Star
A small gift I made for someone close to me. Stars are important to her.
A small gift I made for someone close to me. Stars are important to her.
The ruru, or morepork, holds a special place in the heart of Aotearoa’s natural world. As a nocturnal guardian, it embodies wisdom, intuition, and the mysteries of the night. This small but powerful bird is often associated with protection, guidance, and the ability to see through darkness – qualities embodied in the Māori concept of…
This handcrafted bracelet showcases the beauty and variety of New Zealand’s Pounamu. I’ve selected three distinct types of Pounamu to highlight their unique colors and contrasts. The beads are all handmade, with each one a different variety of Pounamu: These three stones are strung on a 4-braid cord that I’ve crafted by hand, ensuring strength…
This set was made for a 35th Wedding Anniversary. Coral is the symbol for this anniversary and jade is the modern gemstone for it, or emerald traditionally. The porohita/circle was chosen as a symbol of completeness, one to be worn by each in the marriage. The pounamu was selected for its patterning, which gives it…
Te Maunga is about the challenges and opportunities we come across in life. It represents the ongoing pursuit of personal growth and achievement. This was made as part of a larger award for a student at my school. The award is for ‘Outstanding the Outdoors’. As I am an outdoor education teacher this award means…
This is a commission that had a really cool goal. To represent both and Australia and New Zealand and bring them together. There were several concepts talked about before deciding on this one. I liked this on the best. The stone is shaped like a wave when held on the side, this is to represent…
The huia, a now-extinct bird that was native to New Zealand, is remembered for its striking plumage and distinctive tail feathers. In Maori culture, the huia feather is a symbol of nobility, worn traditionally by high-ranking individuals. It is a physical representation of leadership and mana (prestige). Capturing this significance, an 11cm black jade carving…