Mystix Studio

05/06/2026

I did that Taiaha with an honour we have for the Fire Brigade 🙏🏽🔥 Well done👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙏🏽

At the annual Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge, a taiaha is gifted to a brigade that shares a special relationship and works tirelessly together to raise funds for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand. There are now 12 taiaha across Aotearoa.

In 2025, Paihia Volunteer Fire Brigade was honoured to receive the taiaha from the previous recipients.

This year, we had the privilege of gifting a new taiaha (pictured on the right), carved by Tony Makiha of Mystix Studio using wood from the Tui fire, where this photo was also taken. The taiaha holds a strong connection to Paihia and the story behind it.

Congratulations to Nelson Fire Brigade, the 2026 recipients.

📸 Ash Boyd

01/06/2026

The first step that I do, is pick the rakau …
In accordance of the subject that I’m going to carve…. The size, indoor, outdoors, where is it? Close to the sea, desert, snow etc
It’s even better if there’s rakau close to where the carving(s) going…
Fully all information of the project….
There’s Knots, Bow, Crook, Wane, Twists, Split, Cup etc

Splitting the rakau is easier to choose the timber so it’s split ‘normal’… you can see when to use that timber or not…

This one is Kauri, and been milled …. Not natural split…

Next lesson, Haehae

24/05/2026

Study my own self….. it make me understand ‘Me!’ 🙏🏽😁

23/05/2026

😏

21/05/2026

Music is one of those things that makes me ‘carve’…..it so relaxing…. And my brain keeps on exploring the Universe🪐💫🫯

👌😁

21/05/2026

Finish these Signs in a couple of weeks👌

20/05/2026

Always practice……Always!!!

24/04/2026

Red Hot Chili…. Awesome music to listen to when I am carving 🎶🎵