You鈥檒l see this everywhere: greenstone pendants in New Zealand
May 16, 2023 鈥 6 min read
From finding the right souvenir to understanding its meaning, here's what you need to know about greenstone in New Zealand 漏 ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock
As soon as you arrive in New Zealand, you鈥檒l notice the greenstone (pounamu in M膩ori) pendants, often attached to a leather necklace, around the necks of many locals and tourists.
They鈥檙e among the most popular souvenirs for sale here, and it鈥檚 almost de rigueur for visitors to buy one as soon as possible and wear it proudly as they travel around the country. But look more closely and you鈥檒l also soon discover that not all pounamu is the same.
As a teenager, my father (a New Zealander himself) gave me a pounamu hei-tiki as a gift after he鈥檇 been back home. I hate to admit it, but I never even really thought what it meant, I just knew it was an iconic M膩ori design. I loved the way it felt in my hands and I wore it on a leather necklace for years 鈥 including in my first adult passport photo.
Later I found out the tiki is a fertility symbol, so when the time came to try to get pregnant I wore it once more. Oh and, yes it worked!
So here鈥檚 the lowdown on what to consider when buying a pounamu souvenir (whether it's bad luck to buy it for yourself is open for debate). We cover , and the significance of the you鈥檒l see, so that you can purchase a quintessential New Zealand gift with as much mana (power) as possible.
Is there a difference between greenstone, jade and pounamu?
Greenstone, also known as jade, is a semiprecious gemstone ranging in color from cloudy light green to a deep emerald hue. (Two distinct minerals are sold as 鈥渏ade鈥 鈥 jadeite and nephrite. They have similar physical properties, but nephrite is the more common 鈥 and therefore less valuable 鈥 of the two).
A very durable material, greenstone can be carved into a variety of objects, from weapons and tools to ornamental jewelry. And in multiple cultures, it鈥檚 believed to have healing powers.
The greenstone found in New Zealand, pounamu, comes specifically from the west coast of the South Island, the land of the Ng膩i Tahu iwi (community). In 1997, the NZ government returned the ownership and guardianship rights (kaitiaki in M膩ori) for New Zealand鈥檚 pounamu to the Te R奴nanga o Ng膩i Tahu (the elected tribal council of the Ng膩i Tahu people).
This means the Ng膩i Tahu iwi are responsible for sustainably managing pounamu in New Zealand, as well as ensuring that the rivers it comes from, like the Arahura River, are protected and cared for.
In fact, the southwest region, Te W膩hipounamu (鈥渢he place of pounamu鈥), is because it is the largest and least modified part of New Zealand's natural ecosystem, thanks in no small part to its First Nations inhabitants.
Why is some pounamu more expensive than others?
As with any gemstone, the value of each piece of pounamu is determined by its aesthetic quality and its scarcity. M膩ori classify pounamu according to color, markings and translucency. The four main varieties are called inanga, kahurangi, kawakawa and tangiwai.
Kahurangi pounamu is the rarest of New Zealand greenstone, highly translucent and free from dark spots or other flaws. Inanga pounamu takes its name from a freshwater fish and is usually an opaque grey鈥揼reen color. Tangiwai is more translucent, but also more brittle, making it harder to work with. The more common kawakawa pounamu comes in many different shades of green and is easier to work with.
How do I make sure I am buying real New Zealand pounamu?
If you鈥檙e traveling on a budget you might balk at the price difference between inauthentic imported greenstone and the genuine article.
Some of the cut-price pounamu you鈥檒l see in souvenir stores may have been carved in New Zealand, but use raw material from overseas. Other cheaper items are actually mass-manufactured elsewhere and sold to unsuspecting travelers as a local product.
If you want to support traditional craftspeople and take home a souvenir with a genuine spiritual connection to M膩ori culture, you鈥檒l need to keep some of your spending money aside and look for items that have Ng膩i Tahu authentication. A simple design will be around NZ$100 to NZ$200 (USD$62 to USD$125); a more elaborate piece can cost up to NZ$600 (nearly USD$400) depending on the quality of the stone.
A traceability code will give you more information about the whakapapa (genealogy) of your stone, as well as the artist who carved it. For an even more meaningful pounamu experience, visit the studios and jewelers on the South Island and talk to the artisans directly.
Why are some pounamu pieces carved in particular styles?
As well as looking after the environment, the Ng膩i Tahu iwi are also the proud custodians of pounamu carving skills and traditions, and craftspeople who work with real pounamu value both the spiritual and aesthetic beauty of the stones they work with.
Lee-Roy Mullings, of Ng膩ti Kahungunu iwi, has worked at workshop for over 30 years. "Before I start carving, I acknowledge the cultural significance of the stone. I connect with its unique qualities: the grain, clarity, and color. It's more than just shaping, it's a transformation, infused with meaning and M膩ori tradition," he explains.
What is the meaning of the main pounamu pendant designs?
You鈥檒l see four main designs being sold across New Zealand (which are also sometimes presented in stone, shell or bone).
The toki is an everyday tool for cutting, similar to a small axe, and symbolizes wisdom, strength and determination; it can be worn by men and women, but has traditionally been worn by elders. The koru, an unfurling native fern, represents new beginnings, growth and hope. The hei matau, the fishhook design, symbolizes a connection to the ocean but also brings the wearer good luck and safe travels. The hei-tiki design looks a bit like a human embryo; as a result it鈥檚 often said to be a fertility symbol, but its meaning can also vary according to context.
Can you find pounamu in the wild?
Anyone can go beachcombing for pounamu pebbles along the West Coast of the South Island, but you鈥檙e not allowed to hunt for the gemstone in its rivers.
In a sad (but perhaps unsurprising) twist, as pounamu has become more valuable, there鈥檚 also been an increase in looting of the stone from more remote regions. It鈥檚 a crime that is acknowledged to cause spiritual offense to the Ng膩i Tahu, not to mention economic loss for the community.
If you鈥檇 like to learn more about the history and importance of pounamu from the locals, you can book yourself on a 鈥渇ossicking鈥 (prospecting) tour with registered Ng膩i Tahu guides 鈥 recommended outfits include and .
For a lesson on carving your own pounamu (or bone or shells), enquire about courses with , a boutique artist studio in Hokitika on New Zealand鈥檚 West Coast.
And, finally, if you ensure you're buying an authentic piece of pounamu, you can wear your piece proudly knowing you're supporting the continuation of M膩ori cultural inheritance, with a beautiful and authentic keepsake from your travels in New Zealand.
Explore related stories
- ActivitiesNorth Island vs South Island: Which of New Zealand鈥檚 islands is better?
Sep 25, 2024 鈥 9 min read
- Wildlife & NatureThese 10 sustainable travel experiences are both exciting and rewarding
Aug 8, 2024 鈥 6 min read