Alex Sands is a creative entrepreneur from Hamilton, New Zealand with a unique cultural heritage. He is of Māori descent from the tribe Ngāti Kahungunu o Te Wairoa, Aotearoa New Zealand, with European roots in England, Scotland, and Ireland. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but spent much of his youth in China, where his passion for creating was born at the age of 12. With rudimentary tools, files, and small chisels, he began carving small intricate pieces of soft stone.
He has since dedicated his life to sourcing, exploring, and creating beautiful pieces of jade. He has also extended his work to include other mediums such as bone, wood and precious metals.
Alex is committed to creating pieces that reflect the beauty of Aotearoa and the values of its people. His passion for meaningful and lasting art is evident in every piece he produces. His works are crafted with careful attention to detail and an eye for beauty, blending cultural influences with a modern aesthetic.
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Yuki Tanaka is a multi-faceted artist with a background in fashion design, pattern making and silversmithing. He has designed garments in both Japan and New Zealand, and in 2011 and 2012, his garments were selected for the World of Wearable Art in Wellington, New Zealand, where he was awarded the First Time Entrant Award.
Yuki holds a degree in Information Technology, and he worked in this industry for several years before joining Sands Carving Studio in 2019.
His deep appreciation for the variety and beauty of pounamu drives his responsibility for making the mounts and brass braces for presenting taonga, as well as for binding, while also fueling his growing passion for carving.
VIEW MY COLLECTIONSamuel Potter's whakapapa is Ngati Raukawa, through his nan who lived in Tolaga Bay. A born and bred Hamiltonian who graduated from local Fairfield College, Samuel has since been aprenticing at Sands Carving Studio where he has developed a strong passion for carving and working creatively with his hands, as well as having immense respect and adoration for the range and beauty of pounamu.
Sam continues to grow as a craftsman and artist, with the studio now appointing him 'Master Polisher', he provides beautiful finishes to many of our pieces. He enjoys the studio environment and staff, and looks to grow and develop skills in carving weapons, while furthering the flow of design, function and artistic expression.
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Proudly part of a legacy of whakairo (carving), Michael descends from iwi (tribes) recognised for their contributions to whakairo, teaching, and the arts.Shining examples include two of Michael's uncles: internationally renowned artist and carver Para Matchitt, and Māori artist, heritage advocate, and teacher Cliff Whiting.
Michael grew up at Te Kaha, a small coastal New Zealand community in the Bay of Plenty. It was at the marae as a boy that he became immersed in the Māori language—hearing it being spoken and seeing it in its carved form as he gazed up at the elaborately carved wharenui (meeting house). He also watched his grandfather always give of his service—on the marae committee, the Returned Services Association, as the chairman of various land blocks. That dedication was not lost on Michael.
view my collectionJohn was born and raised in Hamilton, and after being educated at Hamilton Tech, he began a jewelry apprenticeship in 1966. He graduated in 1971 and started his own business in 1973, offering repair work in a small workshop. In 1987, he acquired Frankton Jewelers, where he continued to offer repair work and sell one-off pieces of jewelry.
In 2019, John 'retired' and began providing his expertise at Sands Carving Studio, where he delights in creating silver and gold settings and enhancements for our high-quality pounamu pieces.
John's keen eye for detail and his passion for the craftsmanship of jewelry making have been a great asset to Sands Carving Studio. He is committed to his craft and ensures that each piece of jewelry he works on is of the highest quality. He takes great pride in producing pieces that are both beautiful and durable.
Customers often praise the exceptional quality of John's work, and the pieces he creates are treasured for generations. John is an invaluable part of the Sands Carving Studio team and he continues to bring his passion and dedication to the jewelry making process.
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Ngāti Rora, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Mahuta ki te Hauauru, Tūwharetoa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Hoturoa te tangata
Ko Te Nehenehenui te whenua Ko Manga-ō-Kewa te awa
Ko Rangitoto ki Tūhua ngā paemaunga
Ko Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi Ko Ngāti Rora te hapū
Ko Te Kūiti te pā
Ko Te Ranga-ā-haurua te whare ariki
Ko Te Tokanganui-a-noho te whare tūpuna
Ko Nau Mai Tuarua te wharekai
Ko Te Pirurutanga Mō Nga Uri ō Puku te papakainga
Ko Jeremy toku ingoa
Jeremy began his carving journey at our whare whakairo in 2023 after an injury caused him to leave his previous employment as a farmer and meatworker. Since joining the team, he has been able to pursue his passion and build skills as a kaiwhakairo, focusing on local traditions, materials and forms as well as developing unique contemporary style. He has a passion for his whakapapa and soaking up traditional purakau from our living taonga (treasures) - our kaumātua (elders).
Ko Pirongia te Maunga
Ko Kāwhia te Moana Kāwhia kai, Kāwhia tangata
Ko Aotea te Whenua
Ko Waikato te Awa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Ngāti Maniapoto te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Apakura te Hapū
Ko Mōkai Kāinga te Marae
Ko Alicia toku ingoa