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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.
Kia ora katoa, Ko Ngā Kohatu Whakarakaraka o Tamatea Pōkai Whenua te maonga, Ko Ararira te awa, Ko Ben tōku ingoa.
Hi, I’m Ben, and I started carving nearly 2 years ago, through Tūhono Taonga Tūhono tangata, I feel that I have found my creative outlet. I will be facilitating a couple of courses and doing some of the background stuff. Some of my experience comes from being a Secondary Teacher and working in mental health, but also taku haerenga (my journey) throughout my life. I love having a creative outlet for my taha wairua and taha hinengaro and to ground myself.
I am also a qualified chef, so I spend my time outside of Wānanga, cooking and feeding my family, spending as much time with my own kids as I can and going on big walks with them and my dogs. I love sport, movies, video games and being creative, drawing and writing.
Kia ora e hoa!
Ko Jono tōku ingoa.
I was born in Waiharakeke, where Tapuae-o-uenuku watched over us and Te Wairau Awa provided us with a place to play. I’ve lived in various places across the globe but originally whakapapa back to Cornwall in the UK, where my ancestors worked as stone masons—the origin of my family name. However, as coincidental as that is, it’s not what drew me to this community. Throughout my life I’ve sought out a grater purpose, gravitating towards anything that offered a deeper connection to myself, others, or the natural world around me. As a result, I’ve been pulled into art, Yoga, Taoism and Te Ao Māori.
My journey into Te Ao Māori started in 2021, during a period living in Tāmaki Makaurau where I felt a bit a lost. I took a few workshops run by a local design agency owner; Johnson Mckay that dived into Mātauranga Māori and the pathway of toi Māori into contemporary times. I really enjoyed these and later interned at his agency to learn more. However this said, it was attending a pounamu workshop through Aotearoa Bone & Stone Carving Academy where I unearthed a
true passion and felt the lure to explore this art form further. Upon moving to Ōtautahi in 2023 I reached out to Jon and Iri who welcomed me into this beautiful community. I’ve learnt how to carve and now have the amazing
opportunity to share that taonga. Tūhono Taonga, Tūhono Tāngata offers all I value in life; auahatanga, hauora, wairuatanga, hononga and the chance to help others.
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.
Ko Tihirau te maunga
Ko Whangaparaoa te awa
Ko Te Whānau ā Apanui te iwi
Ko Kauaetangohia te hapū
Ko Tauira mai Tawhiti me Mataatua me Horouta ngā waka
Ko Apanui te tangata
Ko Hunia Here Waenga toku ingoa
Tena kautau katoa.
Kia Ora, I am Hunia Waenga, born in Porirua in 1993, with ancestral affiliations to Whangaparaoa (te tai rawhiti) and Kaeo (te tai tokirau). Following my relocation to Christchurch in 1997, I have established this city as my home. Under the tutelage of Jon Jeet, I have spent nearly two years honing my craft in carving pounamu. This experience has been profoundly transformative, reinvigorating my connection to my Māori heritage and fostering a deeper understanding of myself. Through the art of carving, I have discovered a means of authentic self-expression, facilitating meaningful connections and the sharing of knowledge. The process of carving pounamu is a therapeutic and introspective journey, encouraging individuals to explore their thoughts and emotions. I believe with expert guidance and personal dedication, individuals can develop the necessary skills to redefine their narratives and forge their own paths. Nga Mihi.
Here are some of our amazing ākonga.
Here are some of our amazing ākonga.
They have been engaged in this journey in different ways along the way. They are the reason we are wanting to grow this kaupapa
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