Bone Carver / Designer
I carve the designs as a means to connect with my cultural background and to express my relationship to family and the environment. I draw inspiration from the history of my people and the world surrounding us. From these sources I try to blend traditional forms with the worldview that I have developed in the last 10 years of traveling. During this period the ocean has been one of the defining factors of my life. It is a huge inspiration for my designs and for myself. From my love of surfing to the calm that it brings in times of stress, it has been one of the major forces in my life.
One of the areas that I love with carving is the ability to express the physical and spiritual nature of our lives. This duality is represented by the shape of the design and the spaces carved within. One of the challenges I love is bringing these elements together in a design.
You may be wondering how a New Zealand Maori ended up in Boston? I am originally from the town of Mount Maunganui which is located on the East coast of the North Island. My cultural background is Māori, with my Iwi being Ngati Pukenga, Ngai Te Rangi and Te Arawa. Mount Maunganui is located in the Bay of Plenty, a coastal area with great beaches and ocean access. It is in this area that my love of the sea and all its moods developed.
After graduating
from high school, I spent the next few years skiing and
following
the winter seasons. This lifestyle allowed me the chance
to travel
to Australia, Japan, Fiji, and finally America. Although
originally
based in Colorado and Northern California, I have been
on the
East Coast for a number of years. During my time in the
Northeast
I have traveled through Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire
and New York. These travels have lead to a deep
appreciation of
the entire area and its environments. After graduating
with a
degree in Economics from the University of Maine at
Farmington,
I came to the Boston area to play rugby and look for
work. A
brief stint working for a company in Boston caused me to
realize
that a change was needed, and I started to plan my
escape from
the cubicle.
Moana Nui Designs
developed from a desire to reconnect with my culture
and create
a lifestyle that is more balanced. Although it has
been a slow
process, both my wife Ann and I realize that this is
an opportunity
for which we are very grateful, and we would like to
thank all
those people who have supported us with their
patronage over
the last few years. I would also like to thank our
parents,
who have been unfailingly supportive of our choice to
pursue
this venture.
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