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About My Business

Campbell Carving is a one-person carving studio based in Christchurch, New Zealand, where I create handcrafted taonga from Pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) and other significant stones of Aotearoa. I work closely with clients to design and carve deeply personal pieces that symbolise connection, strength, identity, and whakapapa. These taonga are often commissioned to mark life events—births, weddings, memorials, anniversaries, or other turning points—and each one carries a unique story. I’ve spent over ten years teaching myself to carve in my spare time while working full-time as a secondary school teacher. In 2025, I took the leap to become a full-time carver. What started as a passionate hobby became a full-time business. Now, I manage everything myself—from sourcing and cutting stone, to shaping, sanding, polishing, tying traditional lashings, photographing each piece, writing about its story, and sharing that online. Each commission that I create is a one-off piece, carved with care and purpose. I draw on traditional Māori forms like the Toki, Roimata, Hei Matau, Koru, and Porohita—each shape carrying deep symbolic meaning. I often incorporate design elements that reflect the client’s personal story, such as maunga, whānau, or meaningful places. Many pieces are named in te reo Māori to honour their kaupapa. I share these taonga through my website (www.campbellcarving.co.nz), where each piece is documented in a portfolio. I also use social media and my YouTube channel (youtube.com/channel/campbellcarving) to show the carving process and the transformation of raw stone into meaningful taonga. My work has reached clients in Aotearoa, Australia, the UK, and the US—people who feel a connection to this land and its stories. Campbell Carving isn’t just about making something beautiful—it’s about helping people treasure legacy. Whether it's honouring a loved one, connecting with ancestry, or marking a new beginning, I create taonga that carry personal meaning and will be valued across generations. This is the heart of what I do: He Mounga Whakareretanga—a legacy to be passed down, like a mountain that endures.

Why We Should Win The Peoples Choice Award

My name is Campbell, and I run Campbell Carving from my small workshop in Christchurch. I work alone, carving taonga from Pounamu and other special stones of Aotearoa. What makes my work different is the meaning behind each piece. These aren’t factory-made pendants—they’re carved one at a time, for a reason, for a person, with heart. Every taonga I make tells a story. A father wanting to leave something behind for his kids. A bride marking the start of her marriage. A family grieving someone they loved. I carve those moments into stone—something real, something lasting, something that connects. I taught myself to carve over ten years while raising my kids and teaching full-time. In 2025, I left the classroom to do this full-time. It was a big step for my whānau, but it felt right. I didn’t just want a job—I wanted to create something that matters. If my work has ever made you pause, remember, feel proud, or feel connected—please vote for Campbell Carving. Your vote says this mahi matters. That carving one taonga at a time, with care, story, and whakapapa, is worth something.