Ngā Kaimahi

Jon Jeet (Ngāti Maniapoto and Fijian Indian), a registered Ngāi Tahu carver and Master of Fine Arts has been carving pounamu and teaching others for 20 years.  He was trained by skilled pounamu experts in Te Tai Poutini and believes in the healing processes of pounamu as a Māori knowledge-based system,

Jon is humble in both his approach to the ancient art of pounamu carving and the commitment he has to sharing this knowledge with our community.

Karl Ruautu Daniela has many ancestral connections around the motu. His māori connections are with Ngati haua of Te Rarawa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa of Te Arawa, and extend through to the Cook Island, Hawaiki, Samoa, Tonga over to the U.K and few places in Western Europe.

Karl is a kaihonohono, yoga teacher, and self-taught carver.

Karl's interest in kōhatu and carving comes from his learnings in practicing Traditional Maori Healing.

Creating taonga started out as a creative outlet with friends to help him find balance internally. 

This is one of the main reasons Karl chooses to share this mahi. 

Hohepa (Josef) Rangi Bowen of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Kahungunu.  Born in Rangiora and grew up in Kaiapoi.  Having lived in Ōhinehou (Lyttleton) for now in Kairaki.  Hohepa draws from these environments as inspiration as an artist and to lead a healthy lifestyle.  Hohepa has been carving professionally for 3 years.  Mau Rākau, Waka ama, surfing, learning and making music are many passions that Hohepa practices as a form of self care and hauora. 

Ko Aoraki Te Mauka Ariki.

Ko Tutoko Te Mauka Tipuna.

Ko Makaawhio Te Awa Tapu.

Ko Te Koeti Turanga Te Tipuna.

Ko Kati Mahaki ki Makaawhio te Hapu.

Ko Kai Tahu te Iwi.

Ko Tutoko Wallace Toku Ingoa.

I Have spent my life surrounded by Pounamu and have been carving for 7 years. I was blessed to have a whanau with the support and knowledge around Pounamu and Aotea. My interest in pounamu grew through whanau, learning korero of our tipuna and spending time down the awa. To study my passion and further my knowledge on crafting Taonga, I enrolled in The Jade and Hardstone Carving at Tai Poutini Polytech and completed the diploma course while getting some work experience in the larger carving corporations. I am excited to pass on what I know but also to carry on learning and perfecting every step of the way.

Trevor Devon (Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa) has been carving pounamu from the beginning of the programme in 2018 at Haeata Community Campus. He has developed a passion for Toi Māori including whakairo. He is interested in further developing his skills through setting up his own carving space at home. Trevor is a quiet and humble young man who is able to support those who are learning to carve as he knows what this is like and how exciting and empowering the journey can be.