Types of Pounamu: From Kahurangi to Aroha Stone
What Are the Different Types of Pounamu?
New Zealand is a country where you will find many different types of pounamu. It feels like more than just a stone as it carries millions of years of history and a culture that has treasured it long before you ever held it.
Pounamu, also known as greenstone or New Zealand jade, is found only in the South Island of Aotearoa. But here's what most people don't know. Pounamu isn't just one stone. It comes in several types, each with its own look, rarity and meaning. Knowing the difference will help you pick the right stone, whether it's your first or you've been collecting them for years.
The Main Types of Pounamu
All genuine pounamu comes from Te Wāhipounamu, the South Island of New Zealand, and is protected under the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998. Within that, there are several distinct varieties, each named after something in the natural world that it resembles. That naming is not decorative. It reflects a deep Māori tradition of understanding pounamu as part of the living environment around it.
Kahurangi
Kahurangi is the most prized and sought-after variety of pounamu, and at Sands Carving Studio it's our most popular stone by a significant margin. The name means precious or prized possession, and once you see it, you understand why.
It's a vivid, vibrant light green, often with hints of blue running through it. What sets kahurangi apart is its clarity and luminosity. It has very few inclusions, which means light passes through it in a way that feels almost alive. Customers who come in undecided often find themselves choosing kahurangi the moment they hold it in their hands.
Kawakawa
Kawakawa is the most commonly found variety of pounamu and the one most people picture when they think of greenstone. It's a rich, dark green, often with black inclusions running through the stone, caused by graphite deposits within the nephrite.
The name comes from the kawakawa plant, which is sacred in Māori culture. Those black inclusions are not flaws. They are part of what makes each kawakawa piece completely unique. No two will ever look exactly the same, and that character is exactly what many of our customers love about it.
Inanga
Inanga is named after the tiny translucent whitebait fish, and the comparison is immediately obvious. This variety has cloudy blue and grey hues that give it a soft, almost dreamy quality unlike any other pounamu.
It's a quieter stone than kahurangi or kawakawa, and that subtlety is exactly what draws people to it. In our experience at Sands Carving Studio, customers who are drawn to inanga tend to feel a particularly strong personal connection to it, more so than with any other variety. It's the stone that seems to choose its person.
Kōkopu
Kōkopu is named after the native kōkopu trout, and like its namesake, it has a speckled, patterned appearance. The stone ranges from grey-green to light brown with brown spots throughout, giving it a very distinctive, earthy look.
It's less commonly known than kahurangi or kawakawa, but customers who discover it often find it genuinely compelling. The natural patterns of the stone make every piece feel unique and shaped by nature.
Raukaraka
Raukaraka is one of the more unusual pounamu varieties in terms of colour. It takes its name from the karaka tree, whose glossy leaves range from rich green to warm bronze and orange as they mature.
If you're not familiar with the karaka tree, it's a well-known native tree found throughout many parts of New Zealand, recognised for its distinctive foliage and bright orange berries.
Like the tree it is named after, raukaraka often displays a mix of green, gold and orange tones. That warm, almost autumnal colouring surprises people who associate pounamu only with shades of green.
These colours are completely natural and they give the stone a warmth and depth that is unlike any other variety. It's not as widely known as some other types of pounamu, but for those looking for something distinctive, raukaraka is well worth a closer look.
Totoweka
Totoweka is named after the blood of the weka, the native New Zealand flightless bird, and that name tells you everything you need to know about its appearance. It's a deep green stone with red and reddish-brown tinges running through it.
It's one of the rarer varieties we work with, and when a piece comes through the studio, it tends to generate a lot of attention. The red markings are caused by iron oxide inclusions, and their contrast against the deep green is genuinely striking. Customers who are drawn to totoweka are usually those who want something that feels raw and powerful.
Tangiwai
Tangiwai is the only non-nephrite pounamu. It's bowenite, a different mineral altogether, but it is fully recognised as pounamu within Ngāi Tahu tradition and culturally that recognition is what matters.
The name means to weep tears of sorrow, and the stone reflects that quality. What makes it unique is its translucent, glassy appearance and its almost liquid-like quality. When you hold tangiwai up to the light, you see something that looks like depth itself. It's found at Anita Bay on the West Coast, which adds to its rarity, and it's often chosen for pieces that carry deep emotional significance.
Lesser-Known Pounamu Varieties
Beyond the seven varieties above, there are several pounamu types that are less commonly discussed but just as genuine and just as beautiful. At Sands Carving Studio we think it's important for customers to know these exist, because the right stone isn't always the most famous one.
Auhunga
Auhunga sits in the middle ground between the darker and lighter pounamu varieties: a medium pale green that doesn't lean dramatically in either direction. It's also known as hauhunga, which means "frosty" in Māori, a name that reflects its cool, understated appearance.
It's a stone that tends to appeal to people who find kahurangi too vivid and kawakawa too dark. Auhunga occupies its own quiet space, and there's a calmness to it that some customers find deeply appealing.
Kahotea
Kahotea is a distinctive variety because of what happens beneath the surface. It has a pale or white layer below the main stone, and in the right light you can see that contrast clearly. The name reflects this: kaho means light coloured and tea means white or transparent.
It's not a stone you see discussed often, but it's a genuine pounamu variety with real visual depth. That internal contrast makes for pieces that look different depending on how the light hits them.
Pipiwharauroa
Pipiwharauroa is named after the shining cuckoo, a native New Zealand bird known for its iridescent feathers. This variety is a type of inanga, but what sets it apart is a chatoyant lustre that comes from the reflection of the grain within the stone.
Chatoyancy is that shimmering, almost silk-like optical effect you see when light moves across the surface. In pipiwharauroa it's subtle but unmistakable, and it gives the stone a liveliness that standard inanga doesn't have. It's a piece that looks different in every light, which customers find genuinely captivating.
Flower Jade
Flower Jade is immediately recognisable once you know what to look for. The stone features patches and swirls of colour that resemble flowers in bloom, creating a striking contrast against the base colour.
It's an unusual and visually arresting variety, and it tends to attract customers who are drawn to organic, expressive patterning. No two pieces of flower jade will look the same, and the blooming effect within the stone makes it feel like something alive.
Other Stone Types Found in Te Wāhipounamu
Alongside pounamu, Te Wāhipounamu produces two other stones that are distinct from greenstone but share the same sacred landscape. At Sands Carving Studio, we work with both, and we think it's worth knowing about them, particularly if you're drawn to something a little different.
Aotea Stone
Aotea stone is completely unlike pounamu visually, and that's exactly what makes it interesting. It originates from a single stream in the South Island and has a vibrant, almost electric combination of blues, whites and greens. No other stone in New Zealand produces those colours together in that way.
Because it comes from one specific source, aotea stone is genuinely rare. Each piece is a one-off. People seeing it for the first time often stop for a closer look. It doesn't look like any other type of pounamu they've seen before.
Aroha Stone
Aroha stone is a piemontite schist found in Te Wāhipounamu, with a pink and purple matrix running through it and sparkly white crystals throughout. The name comes from the Māori word for love, compassion and empathy, and the stone's warm, rosy colouring reflects that beautifully.
It's a deeply meaningful choice for gifts centred on love and connection, and the sparkle within the stone gives it a liveliness that makes it feel genuinely special.
How to Choose the Right Pounamu
With this wide variety to consider, the question we hear most at Sands Carving Studio is simple: where do I start?
Our approach is always to start with what the piece needs to carry. Who is it for, and what is the occasion? The meaning behind the stone matters as much as the appearance, and in many cases once a customer understands what each variety represents and where it comes from, the right choice becomes clear on its own.
If you're looking for the brightest and most highly prized pounamu, kahurangi is a great place to start. For rich character and natural patterns, kawakawa and kōkopu are excellent choices. If you want a stone with deep meaning and rarity, tangiwai and totoweka are well worth considering. And if you're after something completely different from any other type of pounamu, aotea stone and aroha stone are sure to stand out.
We are always happy to guide customers through the options in person or online. Every stone is different, and the right one is out there.
Protecting Pounamu for Future Generations
New Zealand pounamu is not extracted through commercial mining; it is carefully recovered from rivers and other natural environments, which reflects a long-standing commitment to protecting both the stone and the landscapes it comes from.
Today, Ngāi Tahu holds the responsibility of caring for New Zealand's natural pounamu resources. As kaitiaki, they oversee how raw stone is collected, distributed and preserved, ensuring this treasured taonga is respected rather than exploited. Their work also supports the health of the waterways where pounamu is found and helps preserve traditional knowledge for future generations.
We believe authenticity starts with honesty. By clearly identifying every stone and sourcing responsibly, we give you the confidence that the piece you choose is exactly what it claims to be.
Find Your Pounamu at Sands Carving Studio
At Sands Carving Studio in Hamilton, we work with all varieties of pounamu and the other precious stones of Te Wāhipounamu so that you can see, compare and choose with confidence. Whether you're buying for yourself or finding a gift for someone special, we're here to help you find the stone that's right for you.
Browse our full range at Sands Carving Studio, or get in touch for personalised guidance.
