Whiria te Taura – Weaving the Cord

This commissioned set of Pounamu taonga was carved for a special occasion—the wedding of a woman with whakapapa to Te Āti Awa, marrying her Australian partner. The set was commissioned by her brother as a gift to honour their journey, their connection, and the family they have built.

The name Whiria te Taura, meaning “Weave the Cord”, was chosen to symbolise the weaving together of their lives, their strengths, and their love. Like strands of a rope, they have been intertwined for years, supporting one another and growing together. This name also reflects the connection between the taonga, both carved from the same slice of Kahurangi Marsden Flower Jade Pounamu, reinforcing their unity.

This Pounamu is among the most breathtaking I’ve had the privilege to work with—Kahurangi Marsden Flower Jade, a rare, high-quality jewellery-grade stone. It has an incredible glow when held to the light, with golden flower-like inclusions that give it depth and character.

From the very first cut to the final polish, this stone continued to reveal its beauty. Each stage of the process brought out more of its patterns and translucency, making this an unforgettable carving experience.

The groom’s piece is a Toki, symbolising strength, leadership, and protection—qualities that reflect his role in their relationship. He is described as the steady, calm presence, and his love for the ocean and surfing is represented in the wave carving along the blade of the Toki.

To complement the stone’s deep green and golden glow, it is lashed with black cord in a classic Toki lashing, reinforcing its traditional meaning of resilience and guardianship.

The bride’s piece is a Koru, symbolising growth, renewal, and the journey forward. She is at a stage of personal and emotional growth, making the Koru the perfect representation of where she is in life.

The carving was designed so that the Koru is thinner in the curves, allowing light to shine through and enhance its presence. Careful attention was given to the natural flower patterns in the stone, ensuring they remained visible and weren’t overpowered by the details of the carving.

It is lashed with black cord in a bar lashing with half hitches, a design that keeps the focus on the natural shape and form of the taonga.

What makes this set even more meaningful is that the brother who commissioned it and his sister share whakapapa to Te Āti Awa, as do I. This connection made the process deeply personal for me. Carving a taonga for someone who shares my iwi gave an extra layer of meaning to this work, knowing that it would carry not just symbolism but also a link to our shared whakapapa.

Commissioning these taonga was an act of aroha from a brother to his sister—a way of honouring her, her husband, and their journey together. Whiria te Taura represents their strength, their growth, and the weaving of their lives into one, just as the strands of their whakapapa and experiences are bound together in these pieces.

These taonga are not just wedding gifts—they are symbols of a lifelong journey, of love, family, and the ties that will always connect them.