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09/09/2026

Works on the other side too 🤓

08/09/2026

Whakairo is sometimes referred to as one of our story telling mediums, like the pictures in a book that support a narrative, be that written or spoke word, or indeed even song.

With this piece I wanted to capture the unfolding of an event: Te whakaminenga o ngā hapū o Nu Tirene, also know as the gathering of the confederation of chiefs, on 28th October 1835.

On this day 34 rangatira gathered in Waitangi to discuss the motivations and benefits of one of the foundational documents of Aotearoa - He wakaputanga o te rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene, also referred to as New Zealand’s Declaration of Independence.

They eventually reached consensus, agreeing to sign the document and over the following four years another 18 rangatira added their names to the document.

Supported by the paragraphs above, this particular vessel, which I refer to as a wakataonga, tells that story.

On the main body of the vessel 34 entangled manaia represent the initial rangatira that gathered in 1835, interacting and engaged in discourse. On the lid are another 18, representing those that signed afterwards.
The four ūpoko gaze to the north, east, south and west, asserting the collective mana of the rangatira to all four points of the compass.

Held within is a facsimile of the taonga itself – He wakaputanga.

You can see this in person at Hono Exhibition in November and impress your friends and whānau by telling the story behind it.

Fun fact: no matter which way around the lid is placed, the pattern still manaia still flow.

03/09/2026

Squeezed in a little side-quest before moving on to the final oka. It was nice to hit steel again.

These are not available, but if some more did happen to materialise, would you be keen??

Chisel finished kānuka, antler and 52100 carbon steel.

26/08/2026

Nearly there…
Just eyes and a taura to do.
Still not 100% sure what to do with the eyes 🤔
Any ideas??

25/08/2026

Still chipping away at the second oka (which is actually the first in the set).

I didn’t have a fully developed concept for this one, just a general direction with the finer points being worked out on the fly but I like where this is going.

There’s still a little bit of carving to do on the handle before I go ahead and finish the blade.
Then it’ll be on to staining and then eyes. I think I want to do red sealing wax eyes but we’ll see.
Lastly I’ll make a taura (lanyard) from either muka or h**p.

I hope to be finished in the next couple days then it’s on to developing the final oka in the set.

Fun fact: The cat’s name is Underfoot ( because that’s where he always was when he was a kitten) and he’s a 12-yo Maine c**n. He’s the best.

13/08/2026

A closer look at the second oka

24/07/2026

AJ vs Purple-haired lady.
AJ 0️⃣
Purps 1️⃣

20/07/2026

Sharp knives save lives

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