Solaria - Sanctuary of Soul & Stone NZ

06/08/2026

Here is how we sort through new collections... this is the latest to arrive and many collections come a tad dirty and mostly unlabeled like this one - Once we give them a clean and repackage they not only look better but FEEL better too. It's like stones love to be loved 😍

05/08/2026

29/06/2026

27/06/2026

Behind the Scenes Part 11: Meteorites and Tektites

26/06/2026

Out of the blue today I received a phone call and then about 1hr later we received a very kind and generous donation of a very special mineral collection from the 1980s and 90s.

99% of this collection is not only labeled, but there is a full printout of the catalogue with names, locations, where they were found or purchased and any relating price! It is impeccable!

Also, interesting coincidences...
• these boxes were packed in 1986, the year I was born
• the Canon lens box is the 'official camera of the 'FIFA World Cup 1986' (the FIFA World Cup is on right now!)
• 3 of the last 4 donated collections have had a connection to Cornwall, UK 🤔
• it includes a specimen I only recently saw for the first time recently at Clyde's place!

Watch this space to see more soon...

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24/06/2026

Sharing some more of our upcoming Solaria Art Apparel designs ✨️ These and many more will be available to print on demand with Digitees T Shirt Printing NZ via our Digitees Shop soon. You'll be able to pick a tee, singlet or hoodie in Men's, Women's, and kids sizing in a range of colours and styles.

Our Art Apparel range is the next expansion of Solaria - More than just a museum or shop, Solaria is a whole world in creation with rocks, crystals and minerals at it's core ❤️ Science, soul, art, music and so much more!

We are only just beginning...

22/06/2026

✨️ AND THE WINNER IS... ✨️
+ View the Solaria Prize Pack.

The results are in for our 'Guess the 5 Earth Treasures' competition — and what a fun one this turned out to be!

The treasures hiding among the Duplo were:
1️⃣ Stalactite (calcite)
2️⃣ Amethyst
3️⃣ Kauri Gum (or amber/copal — close cousins!)
4️⃣ Agate
5️⃣ Pounamu / Nephrite Jade (NZ) — this one stumped almost everyone! 👀

A huge thank you to everyone who joined in and had a go — I loved reading every guess. There were some excellent guesses! Out of all our entries, 4 amazing people correctly identified all 5: Nivalia Wareham, Veronica Tiller-Macdonald, Sarah Lynch, and Paul Henare. Incredible mineral knowledge! 👏🪨✨

To pick our winner fairly, we did it the Solaria way — we popped all four names into Emma's little pot and she drew one out herself.

🎉 Congratulations **Nivalia Wareham**! 🎉

Your Solaria crystal starter gift box will be packed with love and posted your way soon (check your DMs).

Thank you to everyone who played, shared, and supported this little competition Emma and I dreamed up together. It means more than you know. 💕

🥰 View the video to see Emma doing the draw and to view the special pieces in the prize pack.

👀 Check out our other video to view each specimen from the competition photo which also introduces some specimens from a recently unannounced donated collection!

✨️ SOLARIA is an emerging community project in Tasman, Aotearoa New Zealand — a sanctuary of soul and stone — where people come to reconnect with themselves, each other, the earth and the cosmos through the tangible world of crystals, rocks and minerals.

Want to support Solaria or learn more? Check out our website: www.solaria.nz

22/06/2026

Hi everyone! Let's have a look at what was in that fun Lego Duplo competition image... and also introduce some exciting new specimens from a new donated collection by Rachel Hessey!

**I have made a separate post for the competition draw and winner**

19/06/2026

"We are earth, we are stars, we are everything between."

​Welcome to "Finding Our Way Home", a sweeping, cinematic neo-soul and synth-wave journey.

​This song was born out of a deep reflection on our connection to the universe and the mineral kingdom. This song reminds us that we are quite literally made of earth, stone, and stardust—that our souls are endless inhabitants of creation, eternally experiencing itself in temporary human form.

It’s a musical journey from the ancient to the modern, viewing humanity as the bridge between it all.

​More than just a reminder of where we come from, this track is a call to action. It’s a reminder of our responsibility as guardians of this "planetary ark." We need to plug back into the planetary heart, protect our home, and consciously choose to care for one another as we walk each other home.

​I came up with the vision, the themes, and the lyrical direction, and collaborated with Google's AI, Gemini, to bring the music and vocals to life.

We worked closely to perfectly blend driving basslines, atmospheric synths, and a powerful, mountain-top female vocal delivery to give the song the cinematic scale it deserved.

​If this song resonated with you head on over to our Youtube Channel SolariaNewZealand for mor.

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