Clara Hakaraia

Clara Hakaraia is a handpoke tattoo artist based in Ōtaki. Born and raised in Te Whenua Moemoeā, the pull to return home was potent enough that she left her self-made tattoo studio in Sydney to connect to her ancestral whenua and whānau.

She has since been working as Kaihāpai Toi at Toi Mātarau Gallery while also studying Whakairo at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Over the last couple of years, she has gathered bits and pieces to add to her kete mātauranga and developed her practice into what has become an accumulation of her pre-existing skills woven with her whakapapa and fresh inspiration.

In recent months, she has picked up the needle again, bringing her knowledge gained from whakairo into the delicate flow of her tattoo style. Dabbling in Whakakai, influenced by her partner Waiongana, a Pounamu carver and jeweller, which is how ‘Tāhei Pāua’ came into existence.

Clara describes this unique pendant as “A special tāonga made for a mermaid or taniwha,” an ode to the whimsical nature of her mahi toi. This necklace was handmade from materials that have been hand-sourced or otherwise gifted – the shells come from Ōtaki beach, the Pāua from Rakiura and the Pounamu offcuts from Te Wai Pounamu.

Reflecting the realm of Hinemoana, with materials usually found washed upon the shoreline to be collected and transformed into an adornment such as ‘Tāhei Pāua’. The weight of the two Pounamu toggles holds the necklace in place, a gentle weight upon the chest and collarbone that can be adjusted in length to the wearer’s preference.