Our Artisans

For me carving Pounamu is a continual journey that has led me to discover much about my heritage and homeland, and a profound respect for this beautiful stone which is as hard as steel.

I am a Pounamu carver and Artist of part Ngāi Tahu Descent, originally from the West Coast of the South Island now living in Christchurch. After learning how to carve in 2005 and earning a Certificate in Jade and hard stone carving, I was offered a job as a full time Jade carver at a large carving studio where I worked for around three years.

Since then I have built up my own workshop and carve a wide range of jewellery designs and sculptural pieces. I am massively inspired by ancient cultures and their art forms, primarily Māori, Celtic, Viking but also Asian and Mesoamerican.

Carving Pounamu is an ongoing journey for me and i am always learning and growing.

If you would like to see more of my work follow and like my Instagram and Facebook pages, or I can be reached via email at : Jadepict@yahoo.co.nz

Ngā mihi nui,
Andrew McGregor

Two Donald’s Greenstone

Ko Tuhua te Maunga 
Ko Arahura te Awa    
Ko Ngāti Waewae te Hapū    
Ko Poutini Ngāi Tahu te Iwi   
Ko Arahura te Marae 
Ko Tuhuru te Whare Tipuna  
Ko Chris Pryor tōku Ingoa

Kia ora im Chris,

Two Donald's Greenstone was started by my grandfather, Don Tainui, and myself. Starting out as a hobby, which has turned into something that is much more. After being introduced to the Ngāi Tahu authentication scheme, I see this as the perfect way to know that my stone is coming from a moral and ethical place. I myself am Ngāi Tahu, so it makes complete sense to participate in the scheme.

Currently carving small to medium size jewellery, hopefully working my way towards more contemporary pieces and using my engineering and tooling background to my advantage.If you would like to see more of my work follow and like my Instagram and Facebook pages, or I can be reached via email at : two.donalds@gmail.com

Nga mihi,
Chris Pryor

Tuatara Stone

Ko Hikaroroa me Aoraki oku mauka 
Ko Wakouaiti me Waitaki oku awa    
Ko Te Moana Roa a Kiwa te moana             
Ko Araiteuru me Uruao me Takitimu oku waka        
Ko Kai Tahu me Kati Mamoe me Waitaha oku iwi    
Ko Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki me Kati Tuahuriri me Koukourārata oku hapū          
Ko Turakautahi toku Tipuna Tāne     
Ko Josh Stephens me Tara Hopkinson taku ikoa     
E kui ma, e koro ma, rau rangatira mā          
Tena koutou, tena koutou tena tatou katoa

We are a husband and wife team with a combined carving experience of 15 years. Carving is in our blood and is our sole occupation. We use our income to support our 4 young tamariki. We are both largely self-taught, with the knowledge that Tara needed to start carving being handed down to her by her Father. Josh has been a whittler and worker of wood and bone and in meeting Tara made a transition into Pounamu where he has developed his own techniques and work style. We are both of NZ European, Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe and Waitaha descent.

If you would like to see more of my work follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages, or I can be reached via email at : tuatarapounamu@gmail.com

Nga mihi,
Tara and Josh 

NZ Precious Taonga

"Working with Authentic New Zealand Pounamu is passion and a privilege"

My carving journey began in 2002 and my love for working with it continues to grow deeper.  When the opportunity to become part of the authentication system q I jumped at the chance and have never looked back,  I carve from my studio in Manutuke in Gisborne, and I am lucky  that I can have my family around me throughout the day while I work. When someone asks me to make a taonga my goal is to make sure the are completely happy, so I involve them as much as possible throughout the process so that I can really understand what they are looking for.

I see carving as a continual journey and make every effort to improve and learn more about  this precious taonga, I am very thankful to the Kaitiaki of Pounamu for the opportunity to be involved and I am looking forward to what the future brings.

If you would like to see more of my work follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages, or I can be reached via email at : paulkauriland@gmail.com

Cheers Paul 

Waewae Pounamu

Ko Tuhua te Maunga 
Ko Arahura te Awa    
Ko Ngāti Waewae te Hapū    
Ko Poutini Ngāi Tahu te Iwi   
Ko Arahura te Marae 
Ko Tuhuru te Whare Tipuna  

Waewae Pounamu is a whānau owned business in the home of Ngāti Waewae Pounamu carving.  At our studio and retail space you can view New Zealand's largest range of authenticated Ngāi Tahu Pounamu (New Zealand Jade) carvings and see the carvers in action as they carve the stone. Please see their profiles below;

Des Hetherington

Des Hetherington’s fascination and affinity with Pounamu was sparked by an encounter with an ancient Pounamu adze at Karamea on the West Coast of the South Island. It was the start of a lifelong journey of discovery. In 1968 Des family moved to the heart of Pounamu country and he began to learn about its many beautiful forms. The Kokopu, Inanga, Kahurangi and Putiputi (Marsden Flower jade) varieties hold a special fondness with this artist. In the early seventies, and already highly creative, Des was encouraged into the art of carving the stone he so loved. Over his career Des captivation with Māori Pounamu art has grown further still and in recent years he has had the honour and fortune of being mentored in the intricacies of wood carving by a Māori master carver. Des believes this additional knowledge has infused his primarily one-off designs with a new purity and spirit. Des also has a stong passion for music.

Turi Gibbs

Turi is of Ngāi Tahu descent of Ngāti Waewae hapu. He has had over 30 years' experience carving Pounamu, wood, and bone. Turi specialises in sculpture and unique artwork. He does various commission work for local and international organisations. Turi has grown up in Hokitika and spends much of his time walking the Arahura Awa looking for Pounamu while also learning how sacred and special our Pounamu is.

Aaron Shannon

Aaron Shannon has 20 years of experience in all traditional and stylized carvings, Aaron Shannon now specialises in stone cutting and cabochon making for inset jewellery. He has been with the Waewae Pounamu business for over 10 years now and offers a considerable amount of skill and experience to our team and our customers.

Brent Scott 

Brent is of Scottish and Celtic Kiwi descent. He has grown up all over the South Island of Aotearoa. Brent's carving journey began as a kid making his own toys from sellotape, copper wire and cardboard. As Brent grew, he progressed into carving wooden knives, pipes and flutes. He eventually moved into harder mediums and experimented with collecting and carving rocks from rivers. 

Brent's passion for carving pounamu ignited when he was mentored by a local carver in Greymouth. He now immerses himself in his own carving journey, learning as he goes. Brent considers himself a kaitiaki in that everything he puts his hands on will become a worthy piece of art.

Nikita Stevens 

Nikita was born and raised in the Otago region and came to learn stone carving on the West Coast in 2017. It was then that Nikita really began to connect with pounamu for the first time, and gained a deep appreciation for why it is revered in Aotearoa and around the world. 

Nikita loves creating realism style pieces, and thoroughly enjoys watching any design appear from a chunk of rough stone. 

Ahakoa he iti he pounamu

Aaron Tauwhare 

Aaron is of Ngāti Waewae descent who was born and raised in Christchurch.

Aaron returned to his homeland in Hokitika 7 years ago and then joined the Waewae team.

Aaron has seven years' experience carving pounamu and 
specialises in production, commission carvings and stone cutting.

Aaron spends much of his time carving and mining for pounamu within the hapū of Ngāti Waewae.

If you would like to see more of my work follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages, or check out our website. We can be reached via email at: info@waewaepounamu.co.nz

Mauri ora,
Waewae Pounamu 

Westland Greenstone

Established in 1962 Westland Greenstone is one the leading pounamu carving and manufacturing companies working in the NZ tourism industry. The company is based in Hokitika and employs a team of skilled carvers to produce a wide range of jewellery and accessories. These are sold in our Hokitika retail shop and in other outlets the company owns throughout the South Island.

Andrew Ralfe

I have been carving and fossicking for jade for 17 years.  Walking the rivers and mountains, with friends, looking for jade is my biggest passion.  It has created a very strong bond, not only with us as friends but also with the land.  I am very blessed and grateful to have had these experiences.  I was taught by local Iwi and we continue to work closely with each other sharing knowledge and experience and learning off each other.  Some of my favorite parts of carving is colour placement and sitting down with someone and getting what is in their head made in stone.

Sean Norton-Taylor

I’ve spent my whole life in Hokitika, growing up I spent a lot of time with family and friends that had a passion for Jade.  I first started working with Jade at Westland Greenstone, which sparked my passion for the stone and the history behind it.  The past 3 years I’ve progressed forward from cutting out slices, making basic pendants, bracelets and toki, to now making Mere and learning more intricate carvings.

Jessica Holmes

I have lived most of my life on the West Coast.  Moving from Karamea to Westland area 6 years ago I found a passion for finding Greenstone on our coastal beaches.  I started working at Westland Greenstone in 2018 in retail, while in retail I learnt how to do binding.  As of January 2020 I am now the sole binder in our factory.  I am now learning some basic skills with carving, such as drilling holes, profiling and polishing which has inspired me to learn more.

Melissa Diedrichs

Melissa is of Ngāi Tahu descent and was born and raised on the West Coast.  Being raised in Kaniere with her whānau, i was always around pounamu as my father had a great passion for the stone and he would take her along on his trips out on the Awa.  Although i was around the stone most of her life, i found my true passion 4 years ago when i took on a Jade Carver Trainee position at Westland Greenstone, Hokitika.  Melissa is looking forward to advancing her skill level in the future.

If you would like to see more of my work follow and like our Facebook page, we can be reached via email at: westlandgreenstone@xtra.co.nz