About Us
Pounamu Christopher Carving & The Carvers Wife
Hand Carved Taonga from New Zealand Pounamu
Our journey into pounamu carving began during lockdown, when Christopher started exploring the craft from home.
With no formal background in carving, Chris taught himself through research, practice and plenty of patience — learning about the stone, the tools and the traditional significance behind the taonga being created.
What started as a new challenge quickly became a passion.
Chris later became a Ngāi Tahu Accredited Artisan, allowing us to purchase New Zealand pounamu directly through Ngāi Tahu and giving us the opportunity to work with genuine New Zealand pounamu through an authorised supply.
Since then, our little business has continued to grow.
We took our first pieces to Howick Village Market in 2023, and the market has become an important part of our journey. Meeting customers, hearing their stories and helping people find a piece of pounamu that has meaning to them is one of the things we enjoy most about what we do.
More Than Just a Piece of Stone
Every piece of pounamu is different.
The colour, markings and patterns of the stone are naturally formed, meaning no two pieces are exactly alike. We work with what the stone gives us, allowing its natural character to help guide the design.
From traditional taonga to contemporary pieces, each item is individually carved, finished and prepared by us.
Some pieces are bold and powerful. Others are simple and understated.
But every piece has its own story.
Chris & Emma
We are both pounamu carvers, working together to create our taonga.
Chris began carving during lockdown, teaching himself through research, practice and plenty of patience. His passion for the craft grew, eventually leading to his Ngāi Tahu Accredited Artisan status.
Emma also carves and contributes her own designs and style to the collection. Together, we work with each piece of pounamu individually, allowing the natural color, markings and character of the stone to guide the finished design.
While Chris and Emma both carve, we also share the many other parts of running a small business — from designing and finishing pieces to photography, markets, customer service and getting orders out the door.
“The Carvers Wife” became part of our name with a bit of humour and a nod to the partnership behind the business. When you're running a small carving business together, there really is no such thing as just the carver and just the wife!
We are passionate about creating meaningful taonga that can be worn, gifted and treasured for years to come.
Thank You
Thank you for supporting our small New Zealand business and for allowing us to be part of your stories, celebrations and special occasions.
Chris & Emma
Pounamu Christopher Carving & The Carvers Wife