What Is Jade (Pounamu)? Why It’s Prized in New Zealand & Māori Culture
Jade, called pounamu or greenstone in Aotearoa, has profoundly influenced Māori culture and New Zealand’s heritage for centuries. Renowned for its distinctive green hues and durability, pounamu is considered a taonga (treasure), often passed down through generations.
For my whānau, this treasure is more than a beautiful stone. My grandfather and father, Lee-Roy (Ngāti Kahungunu), have carved jade in Arrowtown for over 40 years, carrying on a legacy of hands-on skill and reverence for pounamu. During this time, Lee-Roy often consulted with the late Russell Beck, one of New Zealand’s leading pounamu experts, gleaning insights into how pounamu develops a unique patina and mana (spiritual presence) over time. These teachings continue to shape our understanding of this remarkable stone.
Why Pounamu Is Important in Māori Culture & History
Long before European contact, Māori recognised pounamu’s durability and captivating beauty. By the early 1500s, it was being shaped in the South Island, particularly in Te Wai Pounamu (“the greenstone waters”), into tools, weapons, and ornamental pieces. The iwi (tribe) Ngāi Tahu holds mana (authority) over these pounamu-rich lands to this day. As its use spread, pounamu became a cornerstone of trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange among iwi, reflecting its deep-rooted significance in Aotearoa’s history.
What Makes Jade (Pounamu) Unique?
Globally, “jade” refers to two metamorphic rocks: jadeite and nephrite. In New Zealand, pounamu generally denotes nephrite (occasionally bowenite). Māori carvers identify several types, such as:
• Kawakawa – Deep green with moss-like patterns
• Kahurangi – Bright, translucent green prized for clarity
• Inanga – Pale green to milky greyish-white
• Tangiwai – Often olive-green bowenite, more translucent than nephrite
Each variety holds its own aesthetic charm, yet what truly sets pounamu apart is its cultural importance. As Russell Beck observed, each piece accumulates mana as it’s carved, worn, and passed down, turning stone into a living narrative of whānau (family) and heritage.
A Gift from Papatūānuku
To Māori, pounamu is a sacred gift from Papatūānuku (Earth Mother), reflecting the interwoven bond between people and the land. Carvers sculpt raw stone into meaningful designs tied to whakapapa (genealogy), making each piece more than an adornment, it becomes a link to one’s ancestors and a testament to the world that sustains us.
Personal Adornments & Taonga
Pounamu adornments, like hei tiki or toki, have long been cherished in Māori culture. Generations take pride in these taonga (treasures), which often carry the memories of ancestors who wore them before. By keeping pounamu close to the heart, wearers reinforce the knowledge, love, and resilience passed through their whānau. It’s a powerful reminder of where we’ve come from in a fast-changing world.
Designs with Deep Meaning & Symbolism
Toki (Adze)
Symbol of Strength, Leadership & Perseverance
Originally used for carving waka (canoes) and whare (houses), Toki also carried spiritual authority, often passed down through generations as an emblem of mana (leadership). Today, a toki stands for resilience and determination, reflecting its original purpose of “carving one’s own path.”
Koru – New Beginnings
Symbol of Growth & Renewal
Inspired by the unfurling fern frond, the Koru signifies cyclical growth, positive change, and the link between past, present, and future. Its spiral design reminds us of life’s ongoing potential for renewal.
Roimata (Tear Drop)
Symbol of Healing & Connection
Shaped like a teardrop, Roimata conveys emotional strength, unity, and aroha (love). Many believe it offers comfort through adversity, reinforcing harmony both within oneself and with the wider world.
Gifting Pounamu: Moments That Matter
Pounamu is often given during key milestones, birthdays, graduations, weddings, or to offer solace in times of loss or transition. It can also serve as a protective token for those traveling or embarking on a new chapter. Ultimately, it’s the intention behind the gift, celebration, reassurance, or remembrance, that imbues pounamu with profound meaning.
Conclusion: A Living Heritage
From its origins as a versatile tool to its lasting legacy as a revered heirloom, pounamu has shaped the cultural identity of Aotearoa. In our Arrowtown workshop, my father Lee-Roy (Ngāti Kahungunu) continues to hone carving techniques inspired by decades of experience and knowledge shared by experts like Russell Beck. Each piece of pounamu gains new stories and mana as it is handed down, bridging the past, present, and future.
“Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu—Although it is small, it is a treasure.”
If you’d like to learn more about our family’s carving tradition, or explore the rich world of jade (pounamu) firsthand, we invite you to visit our workshop in Arrowtown or reach out online. May you find your own enduring connection to this precious gift from Papatūānuku.