Bird Wings | Pounamu | Haylie Fry

Authenticated Ngai Tahu Pounamu bird wing earrings on Stirling Silver . 

Dimensions 38mm Length

Ngai Tahu Tag P200UXAM

The process of Carving & Blessing the pounamu / Karakia

In 2022 Haylie Fry, became an authenticated Kawatiri woman by process, to purchase, carve and sell Authenticated New Zealand Ngai Tahu Pounamu.

'As a pakeha woman, I am grateful for this honour and privilege to be granted, it ensures I am sourcing genuine stone from the appropriate place with Maori blessing' says Haylie.
Before cutting stone or carving commences, she uses karakia (prayer). This process helps to ground her wairua and physical being into the creative process and upholding respect for tikanga and the pounamu she works with.

He Karakia hei Mahi Toi
Mā te takune
Mā te aronui
Ka reretahi
Te Puna waihanga me te tinana
Kia puaki mai ā tātou mahi toi
Ki tea o marama nei
Hui e!
Taiki e!
An Invocation for Art and Craft Endeavour
With intent and
With focus
The source of inspiration and creativity
Moves in harmony with the body
To bring to fruition our gifts of art and craft
To this world of form
Draw together!
Affirm!

'Once a pounamu carving is complete, I’m drawn to the beach or river for a final blessing of the stone while the water washes over it. I recite blessings in both Te reo and English. As a kaitiaki I am always curious as to whom the pounamu chooses to be received by, and the meaning and connection it has for them. To search up a tagged pounamu go to  https://www.newzealandpounamu.... and type in the serial code you received with your pounamu. Not all pieces are tagged and not all pounamu I use is directly sourced from Ngai tahu. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to source my own pounamu from local beaches or guided by iwi up the Arahura awa, I also trade stone amongst local artists who follow cultural tikanga processes for sourcing pounamu appropriately.

Karakia - for Taonga
Wharairiiri, Whakairiiri
Whakairiiri tenei taonga ohooho
Tenei taonga puipuiaki
Tenei taonga tuku iho.
Na Ranginui e tu ake ana
Na Papatuanuku e takoto tonu nei
Whakairiiri! Whakairiiri!
Kua tau

Bless, Bless
Bless this treasure of great value
This treasure precious treasure
This treasure handed down.
From Ranginui ever standing
From Papatuanuku still lying here
Let it be said, let it be said.
It has been settled.

Artist Bio

South Island artist, Haylie Fry works from her Westcoast studio in Kawatiri (Westport). A self taught carver, with a deep love for her whanau, being creative and the spiritual connection of Pounamu. Her whakapapa in Aotearoa has strong roots in Motueka, Tai Tokerau and Te Tai Poutini. Through her upbringing in these areas she has developed a bond with te moana me te awa. Her connection with water guided her on the journey of exploring the treasures that come from such places and she naturally began to move towards appreciating and eventually working with kohatu. Working within the framework of kaitiakitanga (guardianship), wairuatanga (spiritual connection) and whanaungatanga (connection). These values are at the heart of her kaupapa (Purpose) the journey is one of both receiving and giving. Part of her giving back is to support her community, and her tamariki, who whakapapa to Ngai Tahu, to connect with te ao Maori through mahi toi.