At Te Takapū, students learn the revered tradition of carving pounamu (Nephrite-Jade/Greenstone), bone and stone. This tohu (qualification) is for two years and is approximately 40 hours per week, 47 weeks of the year.
Like something special? Commission your own special piece here
Kurupapa are long slender pendants typically crafted from pounamu (NZ Jade) or bone. Customarily they were very popular personal adornments. Kurupapa are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings. As with most Māori personal adornments kurupapa are often passed down generationally.
Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)
Measurements: 156mm x 18mm
Kurupapa are long slender pendants typically crafted from pounamu (NZ Jade) or bone. Customarily they were very popular personal adornments. Kurupapa are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings. As with most Māori personal adornments kurupapa are often passed down generationally.
Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)
Measurements: 162mm x 20mm
Kurupapa are long slender pendants typically crafted from pounamu (NZ Jade) or bone. Customarily they were very popular personal adornments. Kurupapa are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings. As with most Māori personal adornments kurupapa are often passed down generationally.
Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)
Measurements: 122mm x 9mm
Kurupapa are long slender pendants typically crafted from pounamu (NZ Jade) or bone. Customarily they were very popular personal adornments. Kurupapa are still commonly worn as pendants and earrings. As with most Māori personal adornments kurupapa are often passed down generationally.
Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)
Measurements: 122mm x 9mm
Whakakaipiko forms were given as a symbol of endearment. Whakakaipiko are long and slender personal adornments characterised by a ‘piko’ or kink in the body of the pendant. Customarily they were used as a pin for fastening cloaks and may be made from bone, stone, wood or shell. Whakakaipiko are commonly worn as pendants.
Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)
Measurements: 143mm x 14mm
Whakakaipiko (Aupiko) forms were given as a symbol of endearment. Whakakaipiko are long and slender personal adornments characterised by a ‘piko’ or kink in the body of the pendant. Customarily they were used as a pin for fastening cloaks and may be made from bone, stone, wood or shell. Whakakaipiko are commonly worn as pendants.
Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)
Measurements: 145mm x 14mm
Hei tiki are the best known of all Māori adornments. Tiki are symbols of fertility that depict a new-born child. They are often family heirlooms bearing personal names and embodying their wearers lineage. As with most Māori personal adornments, hei tiki are often passed down generationally.
Material: Pounamu (Kawakawa)
Measurements: 107mm x 50mm x 15mm