Where it began...

I was born in Hamilton and have lived and worked in almost every region throughout Aotearoa. I started carving around the age of 18. Learning the craft in Whangarei, I was a Resident Artist at the Northland Craft Trust, known as the ‘Quarry’, for around seven years.

A large influence in my early carving years, while based at the Craft Trust, was Master carver and mentor Te Warihi Wallace Hetaraka. His influence and advice had a deep impact on my work. I am fortunate to have permission and blessings by several senior Kaumatua to carve various Māori symbols from Ngāi Tahu, Tainui and Ngā Phui specifically, and to mix these with flavours of our contemporary age.

I am also a registered artisan with Ngāi Tahu. This means that I’m licensed purchase and manufacture official Ngāi Tahu Pounamu. It is a great privilege to be able to work with this medium.

It is my wish is to create carvings that communicate special meanings, are spiritually clean, and bring a bit more love into the world. Therefore, each carving tells a story. The following is a quote from the very esteemed Tohunga and Kaumātua, the late Rev. Maurice Grey...

“This master carver blesses every taonga as his ‘ha’ (breath) energy permeates through the bone to give it ‘ora hou’ (new life) as each new creation realises its form and shape. The ‘ha’ of the craftsman provides the aroha energy and imbues the treasure; transforming it to become indeed a sacred treasure (he taoka tapu)”

— Rev’d Maurice Manawaroa Gray MNZM, LTh,JP

The Journey…

After the Quarry, I worked in various roles from within corporate and government contracting sector, through to NGO work. In 2016 I returned to full time carving.

The spiritual elements of bone carving are important to me and are deeply personal to each carver. Traditionally some of the esoteric aspects of this craft are not easily articulated. You are always welcome to reach out to me with your own personal questions in this respect. Everyone is on their own spiritual journey whether they like it or not. As someone who spent over 30 years studying the spiritual dimensions underpinning this craft, I have been through a truly remarkable journey (and am still just a beginner).

I certainly do not claim to be an authority relating to such matters. In respect to bone carving, I am blessed to be able to express glory to the highest Atua (God) and it is my wish to honour Him in all I do. (For the purpose of grammatical sense, I use the pronoun Him, because God is a living real transcendent personal being for which the word ‘it’ does not do justice. God is of course transcendent of being He or She).    

Over many years I have deeply explored various spiritual paths. After dabbling in the new age, pagan, and spiritualist movements, I became a devout practicing Buddhist for around 30 years. However, it is with great appreciation that the Lord Jesus Christ remarkably pulled me out practicing occultic paths! This was a great miracle. A personal encounter! As a Christian, I now have a growing personal relationship with the Lord. I offer respect and love to you whatever your view, and I hope and pray that you attain ultimate peace and happiness.

While reality may have subjective and relative aspects to it, I do believe in an ultimate reality that possesses qualities that are able to be discerned, are objectively truthful (that is, they correspond to reality) and is unchangeable.  So, with what little I know, I share with you through my artistic expression, a hope that you will get a glimpse, sense, or even directly encounter the One who has His hand outstretched in love for you.

I also hope you will experience the magic that exists within each Taonga. Each one has been blessed. I aim to make good quality carvings that you can love and appreciate for life.