Important kōrero on the sourcing of Pounamu taonga (and other greenstones / jades as pictured & used in my mahi follows) source ~ ngaitahupounamu.com

Ngāi Tahu ~ the kaitiaki (guardians)

In 1997 the New Zealand Government returned the rights of greenstone ownership to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the iwi’s elected tribal council.

Ngāi Tahu iwi are the legal kaitiaki of New Zealand greenstone and the only source for authentic Pounamu.

Ngāi Tahu is the largest Māori iwi (tribe) of the South Island of New Zealand - Te Waipounamu, (which means ‘the Greenstone Isle’).

All genuine New Zealand Pounamu prominently displays a mark of authenticity and an exclusive trace code. When entered online this code identifies the origin and whakapapa of the stone.

The importance of the stone to the greater identity of Māori cannot be undervalued.

Along with rights to pounamu came the key responsibility of ensuring pounamu can be sustainably managed. This means not just caring for the stone but also protecting and advocating for the rivers it comes from, the artists that shape it and the communities that surround it.

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Pounamu is taonga tapu (sacred treasure), often passed down from and holding rich history and connection to tīpuna (ancestors), whenua (land) and taiko (the natural world)

Pounamu can represent strength, prosperity, love and harmony for the giver and/or receiver and wearer

Occasionally I am lucky enough to find antique / vintage ‘Pounamu’ pieces or beads in estate auctions / other pre-loved jewellery sources that I find. In doing so I am relying on the resellers knowledge of the whakapapa of these beads in whether or not they are true Pounamu

This is not always transparent, therefore where I am unsure of a stones history it will be described as greenstone / jade (usually nephrite jade)

TOITŪ TE TIRITI

🖤🤍♥️