Bonz N Stonz is a carving studio and shop on Hamilton Street in Hokitika, on New Zealand's West Coast, specialising in handcrafted pounamu (greenstone), bone, paua and shell taonga.
The studio was founded in 2000 by master carver Steve Gwaliasi, who was born in the Solomon Islands and began his path to carving in 1988 while working on a gold claim in New Zealand. Unearthing pounamu boulders from the land led him away from mining and into whakairo (carving), blending kastom (Solomon Islands traditions) with mātauranga Māori (ancestral knowledge).
Beyond ready-made taonga, Bonz N Stonz offers a hands-on Carve Your Own experience guided by local iwi carvers, commission work for custom pieces, free in-store stone identification, and repair and restringing services for treasured pieces.
On Hamilton Street in Hokitika, on the heart of New Zealand's West Coast greenstone country, Bonz N Stonz brings together Pacific and Māori carving traditions under one roof.
Bonz N Stonz was founded in 2000 by master carver Steve Gwaliasi, who was born in the Solomon Islands. Steve's path to carving began in 1988, while working on a gold claim in Aotearoa. As he unearthed pounamu boulders from the whenua (land), he felt a calling that drew him away from mining and into whakairo (carving). Drawing on both kastom (Solomon Islands traditions) and mātauranga Māori (ancestral knowledge), Steve built Bonz N Stonz into a space where people from all walks of life could experience the art of carving firsthand.
The shop's shelves carry pounamu (greenstone), wheua (bone), paua (abalone), shell money in the Solomon Ware style, earrings, rings and gift vouchers. Signature pieces include the Hei Tiki, a Tuatara (Reptile) Breastplate, a Tuna (Eel) design, and a Pekapeka (bat) carving — each one hand-shaped with a story and connection behind it.
For visitors wanting a hands-on experience, Bonz N Stonz offers a Carve Your Own session guided by local iwi carvers. Visitors hand-pick their material — pounamu, bone or shell — then draw their design and work through carving, sanding and polishing, finishing with a three-braid cord. It's described as more than making a piece of art: it's a way of building a genuine connection to the West Coast and its stories, to take home as a piece of Aotearoa. Group bookings of five or more can be arranged by enquiry.
Beyond off-the-shelf pieces, Bonz N Stonz takes commission work for those who want a custom greenstone, bone or shell carving made to their own vision. The studio also offers free in-store stone identification, encouraging visitors to walk Hokitika Beach, Serpentine Beach, and the Green Shed on Six Mile Road in search of their own piece of pounamu — with a request that any unwanted stones be returned to where they were found rather than left outside the shop. For those with an existing taonga in need of care, the team offers repair and restringing services, from three-braid work through to toki, roimata, hei matau and bracelet binding styles.
For those who can't make it to the West Coast, Bonz N Stonz has a partnership with Matakana Carving, a sister studio located behind Smiths Bar, next to the church at Matakana Country Park in Auckland. It offers the same hands-on carving experience, guided through traditional techniques in a relaxed, creative setting.
Bonz N Stonz is located at 16 Hamilton Street, Hokitika, and welcomes enquiries about commission work, group bookings, or general questions by phone or email. Whether you're after a finished taonga, a custom commission, or the experience of carving your own piece, Bonz N Stonz offers a genuine connection to greenstone country and the stories behind it.