Pounamu me te kōhatu · Aotearoa New Zealand
I am the blessed gift
Taonga carved by hand by a wahine carver, made with intention to heal and empower, for the young and the wiser young.
Every taonga has a purpose, and every person deserves to feel seen, valued, and uplifted.Shontelle, kaiwhakairo
Shontelle is a wahine carver in Aotearoa New Zealand. Every piece is carefully chosen, crafted and gifted with intention, and she trusts that each taonga will find the person it is meant for.
Read her story →Ngā Taonga
Every taonga is chosen, carved and gifted with intention. Choose a piece to read its meaning, then message Shontelle to make it yours.
Me pēhea te hoko
Every taonga is one of one. When a piece finds its person, it is marked Reserved, then Sold.
Open a taonga to read its meaning, see its detail and check that it is available.
Copy the enquiry from the piece, then message Shontelle on Messenger or by email.
Shontelle sends the bank details when you confirm your piece.
Your taonga is posted in its gift box, within Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas.
Ngā Tikanga
Adze
A solid foundation,with intention, strength and courageto lead the path you have set for yourselfand show others it can be done.
Toki is a traditional tool, used to build our waka and marae and to prepare our gardens for growing. Building a solid foundation is where it all starts.
Shark or whale tooth
Strength, courage,protection and resilience.
The moana is greatly respected within Māori culture, from kai to the big and small mammals, and it helps cleanse energy. From sea to river it feeds our whenua. Wherever you may be, the respect to protect will always be with you and in you, to pass on when it is needed.
Teardrop
Emotional balance, healing,compassion and groundingthrough life's changes,and how hard they can be.
This taonga helps us to know we are stronger than we realise, with empathy and kindness when it is needed most.
This business is born from a wahine carver's dream to build something for all people, from the young to the wiser young, with intention to heal and empower through pounamu and kōhatu.
My name is Shontelle and I believe every taonga has a purpose and every person deserves to feel seen, valued, and uplifted.
Creating pounamu is more than a business to me. It's a way of sharing aroha, hope, and healing. Every piece is carefully chosen, crafted, and gifted with intention. I trust that each taonga will find the person it is meant for, whether they are celebrating a new beginning, honouring a loved one, finding strength through difficult times, or simply needing a reminder of the mana they carry within.
The values that guide me are aroha, pono, mana, whanaungatanga, and kindness. I believe in supporting others, lifting people up, and being someone who encourages others to believe in themselves. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of everything I do, and I feel incredibly privileged to be part of people's journeys through the taonga I create.
Pounamu is a treasured gift from Papatūānuku. I treat every piece with the respect it deserves, and I hope that when you wear one of my creations, you feel connected to the stone itself and also to your own strength, resilience, and wairua.
Thank you for supporting my small business. It is an honour to create something that may become part of your story, or the story of someone you love.
May your taonga bring you strength, protection and healing, and remind you every day of the incredible person you are.
Shontelle
