FAQ

Yes. We have over 5000 Pounamu pieces available, with a variety of designs and either set in sterling silver, or waxed cord.

Greenstone is the common term for nephrite, which is a hard, durable valuable stone purposed for tools, weapons or adornments.

Jade is either a form of nephrite or jadeite, depending on their mineral composition. Though jadeite is not found in New Zealand.

The term Greenstone is increasingly being replaced by Pounamu. Pounamu is the traditional Maori name for Greenstone. In New Zealand, Pounamu comes in five main types and one that is not technically nephrite:

• Kawakawa (nephrite)
• Kahurangi (nephrite)
• Inanga (nephrite)
• Flower Jade (nephrite)
• Kokopu (nephrite)
• Tangiwai (bowenite)

There are also very rare forms of pounamu, such as:

• Raukaraka (rare type of kawakawa)
• Pipiwharauroa (rare type of inanga, tangiwai, kawakawa)
• Totoweka (similar to kawakawa)

While Jade comes in a variety of colours and can be found in many countries around the world. Only Pounamu is found in New Zealand.

Pounamu is only found in the South Island of Aotearoa in what was originally called Te Wāhi Pounamu (the place of pounamu), later becoming Te Wai Pounamu (the greenstone waters).

There are restrictions on the export of protected goods and items such as Pounamu from New Zealand.

Ngāi Tahu (the major Māori Tribe of the area) sells the Pounamu to registered Pounamu carvers throughout New Zealand. So Pounamu cannot be removed from the river beds to which they are native.

However, anyone is welcome to fossick on beaches for pieces that have been washed down from streams and rivers, as long as there is not a ban in place at the time of collection, by the local Māori assembly who are the guardians of this taonga (treasure).

Anyone can wear Pounamu, though it is considered culturally inappropriate to wear someone else's Pounamu unless they have gifted it to you. This is tied closely to the belief that when Pounamu is handed over to another, the previous owner's mana is contained in the pounamu, along with the spiritual and practical knowledge from their ancestors.

It is however important to recognise the value of Pounamu meaning that regardless of who wears it, needs to be mindful of those who wore it before them.

If it is a new piece, not worn by anyone else, it holds the mana of the land it is from (Aotearoa), so for this reason it is in many ways priceless.

This can be a touchy subject for most Māori and many have quite strong feelings towards whether one should or should not purchase their own taonga.

Traditionally, Pounamu was gained by the reciprocity of gifting or koha