Ora Jade is a whānau business that produces beautiful
pounamu carvings. Leon Bonney has been a carver for 20
years and is supported by his wife Trace who runs the
administrative and marketing side of the business and creates
the lashings for the pounamu carvings.
The couple want to create a product that is more than just
trinkets for tourists. They follow tikanga Māori in their work and
believe in honouring where the pounamu has come from and
reclaiming and revitalising the art of traditional carving. Leon’s
beautiful pounamu pieces are genuine and authentic and
imbued with mauri. Each piece has a whakapapa and a story.
The carving connects Leon to his Māoritanga, and through this
journey is connecting with other Toi Māori artists in the region,
sharing their mātauranga and exploring the art and passion of
carving to confidently build a sustainable living whānau
income.
Before launching Ora Jade, Leon had been a chef for 25 years.
The wave funding created an opportunity for Leon’s carving
passion and talent to be turned into a full-time job and a viable
business for their whānau.
Funding supported the purchase of machinery, a workspace
for Leon, and the development of a website and a marketing
strategy. Most of Leon’s work over the years has been private
commissions but the new website will enable him to sell the
works himself
Leon began carving many years
ago with just a chisel, an angle
grinder and sandpaper. With
funding from Te Pūtahitanga o
Te Waipounamu, Leon has now
purchased his own machine that
produces pieces much faster
and makes his time and effort
more profitable. This increased
speed and versatility is enabling
Leon to finish more
commissioned projects while
building up his stock.
Funding has gone towards building a
website that was otherwise out of reach
for Leon and Trace. They have learnt
valuable skills around running their own
sustainable business and have invested
in an accountant who ensures they are
up to date regarding protecting their
intellectual property (IP) and legislation
Leon and Trace’s three children are involved in the mahi with
Leon passing on his mātauranga to them. They have a keen eye
for the type of stone that Leon works with and are increasing
their knowledge every time they go on family trips to the river.
This has been significant for their whānau, bringing them closer
together and passing on intergenerational knowledge.
Through the development of Leon’s business they are
connecting with other Māori artists in the area, particularly
experts in the fields of carving, tā moko, whakairo and weaving.
They share their knowledge and experiences as well as trading
goods and recommending their clients to each other. This is
creating a resilient, cohesive community in Whakatū and
beyond.
Through his journey the whole family is involved in toi Māori. Te
reo Māori is encouraged and valuable connections are made
with other Māori artists and creatives in the community. This
initiative has created opportunities for Leon and his whānau to
participate in te ao Māori.
Leon and Trace have established Ora Jade as a viable, full-time
business that generates income for their whānau. While Leon is
carving, Trace is increasing her capability learning and applying
her administrative and accounting skills to the business.
The couple are supporting and backing each other to develop
this business out of their own home. The involvement of their
tamariki has been a positive opportunity and experience for
their whānau.
Leon follows tikanga and the principles of kaitiakitanga in his
mahi. He only takes the stone that he needs, and whatever isn’t
used, he takes back. This is a kaupapa Māori approach to
carving, and he is teaching this tikanga to other carvers in the
area. There are beautiful and rare stones in their rohe, so it is
important to Leon to be a kaitiaki, to protect their precious
taonga
