Tiakiwai Mauri Walker is an emerging pounamu carver apprenticed to his father and Head Carver, Tamaora Walker. Grounded in whakapapa (genealogy) and shaped by taonga tuku iho (intergenerational knowledge), his practice is guided by the values of his whānau (family). One of his biggest values is staying pono (honest) and ensuring his actions match his words. For Tiakiwai, carving is both an honour and a responsibility, he explains it as a once in a lifetime opportunity that he does not take for granted. Tiakiwai is from Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi
