From the mists of Tuhoe...
ABOUT
Te Kaha is a far-travelled advocate and spokesperson of Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Kahungunu, the first nation people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), representing and sharing the ancient knowledge of his people.
The wisdom of his ancestors is clearly perceived within the teachings he shares - particularly within the realm of Pounamu.
Te Kaha is a master pounamu practitioner, educator and spokesperson who has honed his skillset and craft over three decades. His repertoire includes hei tiki pounamu, hei taonga, mere pounamu, patu pounamu, patu onewa, and large scale toki and hei matau.
Te Kaha’s pounamu pieces have gained a reputation nationally and internationally for their beautiful finish, balance and mauri. His pounamu are held in private collections in Aotearoa and overseas.
Te Kaha has worked extensively overseas in Europe, Asia and the UK as well as in Aotearoa presenting wānanga pounamu and exhibiting his collections. Over the long decades of his work he has developed his knowledge base of pounamu, and in particular, hei tiki pounamu, through wananga with kaumātua and tohunga. He has also examined collections in museums across Aotearoa and overseas and also private collections in Aotearoa, Hawaii and Europe.
After creating, researching and facilitating wānanga pounamu both nationally and internationally over many years, Te Kaha is able to share mātauranga that has been entrusted to him and offer learning experiences that are unparelled in his field in the world today.
In this time of great transition on Earth, his heart-led mission is to be a guide in the transformation and empowerment of others, in their essential reconnection with themselves and with the natural world, as shown to him by his tīpuna (ancestors).
As well as sharing the knowledge of his tīpuna (ancestors), he guides by telling his personal story of reconnection with his whakapapa (genetic roots), his ohoake (awakening) from addiction, and how he has come to re-focus his life on the perpetual wisdom and freedom from mental slavery.
Cristina
Born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland by the Kyle Of Sutherland.
My whakapapa is pictish celtic and my people have always worked with stone and metal, we are ancient stone people and each time I return to my homelands I get strengthened with this connection and an understanding of working along side a water stone.
The earth-based teaching I recieve living and raising tamariki within te Ao Mārama have shaped who I am and the creations we make today.
I am Self-taught and work mainly with silver. I contribute with the crafting of the Pounamu in making one-off silver pieces, including rings, earrings and cuffs as well as assisting with the binding of the taonga.
I have always loved to incorporate the Pounamu with silver in a modern context. The jewellery we make are a reflexion of this relationship and togetherness"
Our Story
We met through the Pounamu in 2002 and this relationship with the taonga has continued to grow.
Our 3. tamariki were born into the Pounamu and all contribute with the mahi (work) we undertake.
Transference of this mātauranga (knowledge) migrates to the next generation and we are very passionate for this legacy to continue.
We continue to wānanga with one of our kaumātua (Koro Wiremu Huta-Martin) on a weekly bases to ensure and pursue our mātauranga base continues to grow.
Toitū te whenua
Toitū Hawaiki....
Te Ika Taukārapa
Our kāinga (home) is situated in te rohe oo Mataatua.
We practice tikanga Tūhoe working around the Taonga Pounamu, which includes keeping our Taiwhanga Pounamu (workspace) neutral, no eating or drinking within our workspace.
We also whakawātea all taonga before they leave us. This is where we clear the taonga to leave the healing protection of Poutini and the mana of the Pounamu.
We sell our work via our website, we also have a small selection in some art galleries and we also do local markets throughout the year.
We pride ourselves in helping create taonga that honours the beauty of pounamu and sharing some of the whakapapa kōrero we have learned while spending time with this ancient tīpuna (ancestor) from the Ao Kōhatu the world of stone.
These shapes have a story leading us back to the environment.
"ka whakairo ngā kupu ki te HineNgaro
Orooro Pounamu ana e puta te ahua o te taiao"
