What Is Pounamu? A New Zealand Jade History
What Is Pounamu?
Pounamu is a special type of stone found in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is also known colloquially as greenstone or as New Zealand jade. Pounamu is only found in Te Waipounamu (the South Island of New Zealand) with the majority found in rivers and mountains on the West Coast of the South Island.
For Māori and New Zealanders, pounamu is much more than a stone. It is taonga, which literally means a treasured and valuable object. Pounamu has been used by Māori for hundreds of years beginning in the 13th century. Traditionally, it was shaped into tools, weapons and jewellery. These pieces were often passed down through families and carried the mana, the stories and memories of ancestors.
Pounamu was the pinnacle of pre-european maori tool materials. Its mineral structure is made up of closely matted fibres, giving it an incredible durability. Paired with its extreme hardness and ability to hold an edge, tools crafted with pounamu were far superior to anything else available at the time. It was the hardened carbon steel of its time.
Today, pounamu is still very important in New Zealand culture. It is worn as jewellery, used in carving and respected as part of our Māori heritage. It is highly regarded not only because of its beauty and strength, it is a direct connection to te whenua (the land), to personal and cultural identity.
A Brief History of Pounamu
Ngāti Wairaki were the first iwi to live on the rugged West Coast, sometimes called Te Tai Poutini (The Tides of Poutini). The steep mountains of the Southern Alps and the wild oceans of the Tasman Sea meant that, for many years, Ngāti Wairaki were protected from other tribes. Here, they discovered pounamu in the rivers that ran down from the mountains.
According to tradition, a woman named Raureka became the first person to discover a mountain pass from Te Tai Poutini to the east coast. By this time (the mid-1600s), Ngāi Tahu were expanding further into the South Island. According to tradition, after an argument with her extended family of Ngāti Wairaki and crossing the pass, Raureka married in the east and guided an expedition back over the pass, opening a passage between the two coasts. It became a corridor for traders and war parties, and a century of intermittent fighting followed. Eventually, Ngāi Tahu conquered and absorbed Kāti Wairaki and took possession of the West Coast.
By the 1700s, Ngāi Tahu were trading pounamu along the eastern coast of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) and into Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island). Within a short period, pounamu became the driving force of the Māori economy, exchanged for everything from dried fish and finely woven mats to services like tattoos. Before pounamu was sent along trading routes all over Aotearoa, it was worked into tools, jewellery, and weapons at dedicated trading hubs. Kaiapoi Pā (near modern-day Christchurch) was one of the main trading and carving centres in the Ngāi Tahu network. These carvers were often older chiefs who were no longer able to fight. They embedded their mana into each item they worked, telling stories of people and events through the patterns they engraved.
In the mid-nineteenth century, the Crown purchased most of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) from Ngāi Tahu. The Arahura River was not included in the sale, and Ngāi Tahu were promised continued access to this important pounamu source. In reality, not enough land was set aside, and in the following century Ngāi Tahu lost all control over their taonga until the 1998, as part of the Treaty settlement, legal ownership of all pounamu within the Ngāi Tahu territory was returned to the iwi.
During the years between the Crown’s purchase and the return of land rights to Ngāi Tahu, knowledge about where pounamu was found, how it was worked, and much of the meaning behind the designs were lost. In its place, a largely non-Māori industry sprung up. European settlers and foreign tourists developed a liking for greenstone jewellery, and by the 1960s, pounamu items featuring knock-off “Māori” designs were popular souvenirs.
With little oversight by the government, a million-dollar, black-market trade developed to the point where helicopters were used to haul pounamu boulders from remote locations. Since then, the majority of large-scale pounamu poaching was effectively shut down in the 90s, and there are now clear guidelines and strict regulations in place regarding fossicking and the gathering of stone.
Which brings us to modern times. With the Treaty of Waitangi and the revitalisation of Māori culture in the 21st century, pounamu has returned to its rightful place among the taonga of Aotearoa. Much effort has gone into the preservation and resurgence of toi whakairo (the art of carving) at whare whakairo and wānanga across the country.
Cultural Meaning of Pounamu
Pounamu holds deep cultural meaning for Māori and is seen as a sacred and treasured stone. It is not only valued for its physical attributes but also for the spiritual and emotional connections it carries.
Taonga
Pounamu is considered a taonga, which means something highly valued and precious. For Māori, taonga are not just physical objects; they carry story, identity and cultural importance.
Connection to Ancestors
Many pounamu pieces are passed down through the generations within a family or iwi (tribe). When a piece is handed on, it carries the stories and memories of the people who wore it before. This creates a strong link between the past and present. Wearing pounamu can connect people to their whakapapa (family lineage).
Symbol of Status and Authority
Traditionally, pounamu was rare and difficult to obtain in addition to being extremely hard to carve. Because of this, only those high in rank or social status could wield or wear pounamu. It became a symbol of leadership and power with chiefs and important leaders often carrying pounamu in the form of mere or toki potangata. These items represented their authority and respect within the community.
Spiritual Protection
Pounamu is believed to hold spiritual energy. Many people believe it can offer protection, strength and guidance. Some Māori traditions say pounamu chooses the person who wears it, rather than the other way around. It is also typical for pounamu to be gifted rather than bought, as gifting strengthens relationships and meaning.
Connection to Land and Nature
Being literally of the land, pounamu is strongly connected to Aotearoa, especially rivers in the South Island. Māori believe the stone has a living spirit and should be collected with care, respect, and the proper tikanga (protocols). Certain iwi, especially Ngāi Tahu, are recognised as guardians of pounamu sources and protect the resource for future generations.
Find Your Taonga Pounamu at Sands Carving Studio
Choosing pounamu is a personal and special journey. Each piece carries its own story, meaning and connection to Aotearoa. At Sands Carving Studio, you can explore a beautiful range of genuine New Zealand pounamu, carefully carved with skill and respect for tradition.
Our team can help you understand the stone, its meaning and choose a piece that feels right for you or someone you love. Whether you are marking an important moment or searching for a lifelong treasure, visit Sands Carving Studio to find a unique taonga that will hold meaning for generations.
FAQ
Q: How do you pronounce pounamu?
Pounamu is pronounced poh-nah-moo. It is a te reo Māori word, and each syllable is given equal emphasis with all vowels pronounced clearly. You may also hear it called "greenstone" in everyday New Zealand English.
Q: What is pounamu made of?
Pounamu is a naturally occurring hard stone, typically nephrite jade or bowenite, found in the rivers and mountains of New Zealand's South Island. Its mineral structure is made up of closely matted fibres, giving it exceptional durability, extreme hardness, and the ability to hold a sharp edge. These qualities made it the most prized tool-making material in pre-European Māori society.
Q: What does pounamu mean in Māori?
In te reo Māori, pounamu refers to the greenstone itself, but culturally it carries far deeper meaning. It is considered a taonga a treasured and sacred object. Pounamu represents connection to the land, to ancestors, and to one's whakapapa (family lineage). It is not simply a material, but something believed to carry its own spiritual presence.
Q: What is pounamu used for?
Historically, pounamu was used to craft tools, weapons, and jewellery. Its hardness made it ideal for cutting tools and prized weapons such as the mere and toki potangata. Today, pounamu is most commonly carved into jewellery and decorative taonga. It is also central to gifting traditions that pieces are passed down through generations, carrying the stories and mana of those who wore them before.
Q: What is pounamu stone?
Pounamu is a special type of hard, green stone found only in Te Waipounamu, the South Island of New Zealand. Also known as New Zealand jade or greenstone, it is collected from rivers and mountains, particularly along the West Coast. Beyond its physical beauty and strength, pounamu holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for Māori as a direct connection to the land and to personal identity.
Q: What is pounamu in English?
In English, pounamu is most commonly referred to as greenstone or New Zealand jade. It is sometimes called New Zealand nephrite, reflecting its mineral composition. However, many New Zealanders, Māori and non-Māori alike, prefer the te reo Māori term pounamu, as it better honours the stone's cultural and spiritual significance.
Q: Where is pounamu found?
Pounamu is found exclusively in Te Waipounamu the South Island of New Zealand. The majority comes from rivers and mountains along the West Coast, known in Māori as Te Tai Poutini. The Arahura River has been one of the most significant sources for centuries. Today, Ngāi Tahu hold legal ownership over all pounamu within their territory, as restored through the Treaty of Waitangi settlement in 1998.
Q: How much does pounamu stone cost?
Pounamu pricing varies depending on the type, quality, size, and craftsmanship of the piece. A small pendant may start from around NZ$50 - $150, while detailed carvings or rarer high-grade stone can reach several hundred to several thousand dollars. Because pounamu is a taonga, its true value extends well beyond price. Many pieces are gifted rather than purchased, and heirloom pounamu carries irreplaceable personal and cultural worth.
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