Our Artists
Meet the hands behind the carvings.
Many of our artists are Ngai Tahu registered and hold great passion for Pounamu and the mana it bestows on its wearer.
Allan Moreton
Born in Hokitika, the heart of Pounamu country, Allan is a second-generation jade carver who learned his craft under the guidance of his father. Since 1987, he has continued this family tradition from their Christchurch studio, shaping greenstone with skill and deep cultural respect.
Internationally recognised, Allan’s carvings have featured in the International Lapidary Journal and grace the collections of Pounamu enthusiasts around the world. His work, highlighted in Te Wahi Pounamu, reflects a profound connection to Māori culture and the spiritual essence of Greenstone.
Dean Taylor
Dean’s journey with stone began at local markets selling crystals, but his true calling emerged when he started crafting cabochons and later gravitated toward New Zealand gemstones, especially Pounamu, admired for its strength and variety.
Learning the art of Toki from Jon Jeet, Dean refined his skills and became a registered Ngāi Tahu carver, honouring the cultural and ancestral importance of each piece he creates. His deep connection to Pounamu shines through in every carving.
Outside the studio, Dean gives back to nature through volunteer work, including caring for injured wildlife at the South Island Wildlife Hospital.
Aden Hoglund
Aden began carving in 1988, starting with bone before honing his craft in New Zealand Jade. Guided by strong ethics, he works exclusively with local stone and blends traditional and contemporary styles in his designs.
His work has travelled the globe, into the hands of figures like the Dalai Lama, Barack Obama, Kate Middleton, Lewis Hamilton, and creators behind Lord of the Rings and Spike Lee films.
Graeme Wylie
With over 25 years of carving experience, Graeme trained under one of New Zealand’s top carvers in Hokitika. His passion for Jade continues at his Christchurch workshop, where he brings Pounamu to life with skill and reverence.
Graeme’s work is admired around the world, a reflection of both his craftsmanship and deep connection to stone.
Peter Tauwhare
With whakapapa rooted in the Arahura River, Peter sources his stone nearby and begins each carving with a heartfelt karakia to his ancestors. Using simple tools, he lets tradition and instinct shape his work.
Peter’s gift lies in revealing what lies hidden within the stone. His creations, often described as ancient and otherworldly, reflect a deeply intuitive and almost Neolithic style that’s uniquely his own.
Barry Dash
Barry was born and raised on the West Coast. The son of a Jade Carver working in Hokitika 45 years ago. Barry has collected Jade since his early 20s, then went on to learn carving and has been a full time carver for the last 25 years.
Jon Jeet
Ko Porongia te Māunga, Ko Waikato te awa, Ko Tainui te waka, Ko Te Maawe tōku tīpuna, Ko Maniapoto tōku Iwi, Ko Kahotea tōku marae, Ko Joan rāua, Ko Richard ōku mātua, Ko Jon tōku ingoa.
Jon has spent most of his life on Ngāi Tahu land, surrounded by a community of Pounamu carvers who inspired his own path. Now a registered artisan, Jon brings deep cultural knowledge and reverence to every piece he creates.
For Jon, Pounamu is a living Tāonga, cherished not only by Māori but by many across Aotearoa. He finds meaning in knowing each piece carries personal and spiritual value for its wearer.
Al Brown
Al Brown is a well-respected and accomplished Pounamu (greenstone) carver with deep roots in the Whanganui River iwi, specifically connected to Ati Hau Nui a Papa-Rangi and Ngāti Ruaka te Hapū o Ranana. His 30+ years of carving experience reflect not only his skill but also his strong connection to his Māori heritage, the natural beauty of Aotearoa (New Zealand.
Al’s work is displayed in national and international galleries, museums and collections, and has often been gifted to various countries and dignitaries on state and trade missions.