17 Jun 2025
We’re proud to share that Tamaora Walker, the lead artist at Mountain Jade, has been awarded the People’s Choice Prize at the 2025 R.T Nelson Awards for Sculpture for his deeply personal work, He Momo Kotahi - Through My Grandfather’s Eyes.
This prestigious event celebrates sculptural excellence in Aotearoa, showcasing the best of contemporary and traditional forms. Among a field of incredibly talented artists, Tamaora’s piece stood out not just for its craftsmanship but for the powerful kōrero woven into the work - a tribute to whakapapa, individuality, and legacy.
This taonga speaks the words my grandfather often shared with our whānau - first to my uncles and aunties, and then to us, his mokopuna. Words I only truly understood when I became a father:
“You are an entity within your own right.”
No truer words have been spoken. In Te Ao Māori, at the centre of every being is a spark - Mauri. Within that Mauri lives Wairua, the genetic memory of our tūpuna. When we quiet our minds, we can feel their intentions - good, bad, right, wrong.
The challenge of life is to navigate those intentions with our own. That’s what makes us unique - He Momo Kotahi. Our individuality is expressed through the choices we make. My koro would say:
“Don’t judge others for their choices. We all walk our own path.”
I remain connected to my ancestors, but I own my journey - my wins and losses, my good and bad. Because in the end, we are who we were, who we are, and who we will become.
“An entity in your own right.”
He Momo Kotahi.
Dedicated to my koro, Stanley Tuiti Walker
Ngāti Kererū, hapū of Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Te Arawa waka
Sunrise: 01 June 1939 - Sunset: 10 June 2023
Tamaora Walker has been part of the Mountain Jade whānau for decades. A renowned New Zealand carver and passionate storyteller, he now leads our Rotorua carving studio, where he mentors and teaches the next generation of artists. Known for his ability to express powerful whakapapa through stone, Tamaora’s work is treasured by collectors and visitors from all over the world.
Winning the People’s Choice Prize is a reflection of the way his work touches people’s hearts, rooted in tradition, yet speaking to the individuality within us all.
Visit us in Rotorua to see more of Tamaora’s creations and meet some of the talented young artists he is inspiring today.
