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R
obert Simmons and Kathy Helen Warner
intend ‘Heaven & Earth’ to be “NZ’s
most amazing gallery of crystals, minerals,
gemstones and jewellery.” And their store
is
extraordinary – their intention has already been
realised as far as we’re concerned!
When we both met to interview this friendly and
knowledgeable pair for our occasional feature
aimed to ‘toast’ outstanding couples on the
Coromandel, Robert noticed and identified the
pendant Shannon was wearing, though she
didn’t even know what it was.
“I’ve been passionate about stones my whole
life,” Robert shared. “As a little boy, I often went
crystal hunting with a bucket and hammer,
breaking open rocks, looking for the glittering
bits inside. It never stopped, and now I’ve
spent over forty years dealing with gems,
minerals and rocks of all sorts, as well as
writing books about them.”
Robert jokes, “People often try to ‘stump the
stone guy’ and I enjoy it when I’m asked to
identify their stone.” So call in if you have any
questions about your rocks or pendants – They
are happy to oblige.
As we chatted over our cuppas, Kathy
revealed, “Robert and I feel truly blessed to
have relocated to the Coromandel, and to
Tairua in particular. We love the community, and
we hope to make a positive contribution. We’ve
found many good friends already, and hope our
Heaven & Earth shop will bring an extra bit of
wonder to a place that has already brought so
much to our lives.”
THE MEANING BEHIND THE NAME...
“There is a double meaning: Literally, our
products are from both heaven and earth,”
explains Robert. “We collect a huge array of
the earth’s minerals and gemstones, but we
also sell stones from the heavens – meteoric
gemstones like moldavite, Libyan gold tektites
and Tibetan tektites. The delight many people
have in crystals and gemstones, and the
spiritual qualities they perceive from them,
bring the feeling of ‘Heaven & Earth’ together.”
FROM ‘SHELLS’ TO ‘STONES’
This adventurous couple have opened the
shop in the space that was once Tairua’s iconic
Shells Restaurant. After it closed earlier this
year, Gavin Morris purchased the building,
dividing it into two spaces – the larger portion
for the gallery and the other for a new cafe.
Robert and Kathy loved the space – its vaulted
wood ceilings, the stone wall with cosy
fireplace, the original rimu boat-shaped bar
(built by the building’s previous owner, Roger
Turner), and even the stained glass ‘shell’
lamps made by Rachel Olsen.
“It all fits perfectly with the natural crystals
and gemstones we have in our shop,” shares
Kathy. We agree. And they have treated these
remnants of the past with reverence and made
them shine. Placement of glass shelving even
allows the restaurant’s original rough stone
walls to show through.
Actually the entire shop glows and has a
fabulous feel. We were blown away by the
magnificent displays with lighting that perfectly
showcases these priceless, sculpted minerals.
Robert and Kathy have outdone themselves.
They opened right on schedule – the 1st of
October. As they ‘unwrapped’ the brown paper
from the windows and thrust open the doors,
an anxious crowd awaited. “We were pleased
to hear them gasp with delight as they walked
inside,” Kathy told us. And there was a steady
stream of happy visitors throughout the day.
WHAT’S IN STOCK
The shop carries a wide array of minerals,
crystals and tumbled stones. There’s a big
display of Amethyst Geodes, as well as
Quartz Crystals, petrified wood, Rose Quartz,
Labradorite, Carnelian, Smoky Quartz,
Moonstone, Agates and other gemstones. “We
offer everything from dollar pocket stones to
decorator pieces fit for a mansion.”
Impressed with the variety and quality of the
stock, we found something to please everyone
and anyone, including yourself. Great gift ideas
like the “Butterstone” that was formed 2500
million years ago, predating dinosaurs – already
gift boxed for only $6. Or spend thousands for
top of the line gemstones and other stunning
sculptures created by nature, to bring beauty
and good vibes into your home.
The selection of jewellery is quite remarkable,
yet reasonably priced. Some pieces are created
by Robert (a jewellery designer for most of his
life) with gemstones from all over the world.
Above:
Kathy and Robert at home in Te Karo Bay. Although the couple have just opened their
gallery, they have been part of the Tairua community for over four years. Photo: Paul Keesig
Many, including myself, describe
Tairua as a ‘little slice of Heaven’.
That goes double for its newest
shop owners, Robert Simmons
and Kathy Helen Warner.
The couple has been operating under the
business name ‘Heaven & Earth’ for over
30 years, opening in America the day after
their wedding in 1986. They now bring this
world-renowned source for stones, gems and
jewellery to NZ – the exciting new gallery is
located in Tairua on Main Road next to the
Tairua Info Centre.
Robert admits that “the Coromandel seems
more ‘heavenly’ to me than anywhere else on
Earth I’ve been, and the stones that come from
here are not just beautiful – they have a special
sweetness that speaks to us very deeply.”
What a perfect place to carry on their legacy
and the special name ‘Heaven & Earth’ in a
place where they feel so connected. –
Tovi Daly
`
HEAVEN ON EARTH'
Creating a bit of
40
COROMANDEL LIFE
SPRING 2016
Article by Shannon Okey and Tovi Daly
Gallery photos by Greg Daly