What do Māori designs and shapes symbolise?

Each Māori design carries unique cultural significance: Koru: New beginnings, growth, harmony Toki: Strength, resilience, wisdom Pounamu Bracelet: Connection, protection, unity Hei Matau: Prosperity, strength, safe journeys Pikorua: Aroha (love), enduring bonds, life's cycles Roimata: Healing, empathy, connection Porowhita: Life cycle, harmony, interconnectedness Whale’s Tail & Niho: Guardianship, intelligence, aroha Manaia & Breastplate: Protection, balance, resilience Each item purchased comes with its own individual meaning card. Learn more about their stories and meanings here .

How are the pendants or bracelets packaged, and what comes with my purchase?

Each pounamu pendant or bracelet is carefully packaged with its meaning and care cards to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Your purchase includes: An individual meaning card explaining the cultural significance of the chosen design A care card with instructions on maintaining your pounamu A protective linen eco pouch for bracelets or a certified eco box for pendants Secure packaging in a recyclable shipping box made from recycled materials Upgrades and Additional Options: You can add these upgrades on the product page: Gift Wrapping: Optional gift wrapping with a personal handwritten tag. Kete Packaging: Display your pounamu in a traditional kete (flax basket).

Kete basket

Name: Kete basket
Brand: ANISORCrafts
Price: 19.9 NZD
Availability: InStock

$19.90

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

The perfect pairing for your pounamu

Traditional harakeke weaving

Natural flax

Authentic Māori flax weaving sourced and made in Auckland, New Zealand. This beautiful Harakeke weaving showcases the natural flax colours and intricate weaving. The kete basket allows your taonga to be gifted and stored with a beautiful natural fiber to complement the stone.

Extra Small: 7cm wide x 3cm high
Ideal for small pendants.
Small: 8cm wide x 3cm high
Also suitable for small pendants.
Medium: 12cm wide x 3.5cm high
Perfect for larger pendants.
Large: 15cm wide x 4cm high
Suitable for larger pendants as well.
Extra Large: 25cm wide x 4cm high
Great for displaying taonga in the home or gifting multiple items, such as bracelets or pendants, to groups.

Cancellation of orders:

You may only cancel your order before it has been sent so please contact us immediately via email so that your item isn't dispatched and we will fully refund the cost you have paid for that order. If your order has already been dispatched we are unable to cancel your order, in this case you would need to follow our returns policy.

Returns policy:

If you wish to return your item you need to contact us within 5 working days of receiving the item. Simply let us know your reason for returning the item. We are happy to offer you store credit for the amount that you have paid excluding any shipping and handling fees as these are non-refundable.

For the item to be approved for exchange of store credit it must be returned in its original packaging with care to ensure its safe return to us. Store credit will not be approved if item is returned damaged or broken in transit.

When returning an item, postage must be tracked, with signature required. We are not responsible for return postage costs. We are also not responsible for any items that are lost or damaged in transit - in which we do not offer a refund.

Engraved pieces - We do not offer returns/store credit for pieces with engraving as these pieces are individually customised with your own messages. We are not able to re-sell or re-use these items so please select your items and messages carefully. If you notice the wording was not what you requested - please contact us and we will do our best to sort through the problem and remediate it for you.

All returns will be looked at on a case by case basis following the above policy so please do contact us on hello@arrowtownstonework.co.nz

Dispatch times:

We do our best to dispatch your items within 1-2 days from your order, however engraved pieces can take 2-5 days due to the engraving process.

Courier in New Zealand.

We use overnight Courier Post when shipping within New Zealand which generally takes 1-2 days from pick up by courier. You will receive a tracking number when your piece/s have been packaged. You can use this tracking number on the NZ post tracking website to follow its journey to you.

International Courier.

We have two options for international postage - NZ post tracked mail & DHL express.

NZ post tracked mail - this is a mail service which has a tracking number allocated. Due to recent delays with worldwide shipping this service can take from 2-6 weeks.

DHL express - is our faster postage option which takes from 5-10 working days anywhere in the world.

Countries we post to commonly include

Australia
USA
Canada
United Kingdom
Ireland
France
Switzerland
Germany
UAE

Postage costs do vary between the different countries and are at a set price which will show at checkout. Some countries may require additional tax/duties on import to your country - See Important notice below.

If you are outside these counties please contact us to enquire about potential postage to your country. All international parcels will have a tracking number allocated to them.

Important Notice - Tax & Duty.

For overseas orders, any tax or duty charges determined by each country’s customs agency or its authorised service provider, are completely out of Arrowtown Stonework’s control. We do not cover these costs and they are expected to be paid by the recipient of the goods. Arrowtown Stonework is not responsible for and will not reimburse any of these charge and duties. Duties will vary depending on the country.

Weaving Tradition

Woven from harakeke (New Zealand flax) by our local weaver, this kete offers a meaningful way to keep and carry cherished items. It represents the craftsmanship of flax weaving and the cultural heritage and wisdom passed down through generations.

A Container of Knowledge Symbolism & Meaning

Kete are traditional carrying baskets woven from plant materials. Lete are an integral part of Māori culture. Though practical, kete symbolises a container of knowledge and wisdom, reflecting the resilience of Māori people.

What our customers think

FAQs

We respect your choice and do not bless our finished pounamu pieces. However, we encourage those who purchase to consider blessing it before gifting. Please see the answer below regarding "How can I bless pounamu."

Blessing pounamu is a personal choice often associated with gifting to someone close. Seek guidance from a Kaumatua or local Marae for traditional practices. Alternatively, you can honor tradition by cleansing the pounamu in a river or stream with a karakia (prayer), or by blessing it with the recipient to share your intentions. These methods allow for meaningful engagement with pounamu according to personal beliefs and connections.

Yes, you can buy pounamu for yourself without cultural taboo. In Māori history, pounamu was both a cherished gift and a traded commodity among tribes, symbolizing honor, respect, and enduring value. Whether purchased or received, owning a pounamu taonga carries deep spiritual significance, enhancing personal mana (spiritual life force) and connecting past traditions with the present. Whether for yourself or as a gift to friends or loved ones, the choice that feels meaningful to you is important.

Each river-tumbled pounamu bracelet is uniquely shaped and colored, showcasing its natural beauty. During checkout, you can leave a note for our whānau specifying your preferences for the bracelet's shape or color, and we'll do our best to accommodate your request.

Each Māori design carries unique cultural significance:

Koru: New beginnings, growth, harmony
Toki: Strength, resilience, wisdom
Pounamu Bracelet: Connection, protection, unity
Hei Matau: Prosperity, strength, safe journeys
Pikorua: Aroha (love), enduring bonds, life's cycles
Roimata: Healing, empathy, connection
Porowhita: Life cycle, harmony, interconnectedness
Whale’s Tail & Niho: Guardianship, intelligence, aroha
Manaia & Breastplate: Protection, balance, resilience

Each item purchased comes with its own individual meaning card. Learn more about their stories and meanings here.

Each pounamu pendant or bracelet is carefully packaged with its meaning and care cards to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Your purchase includes:

An individual meaning card explaining the cultural significance of the chosen design
A care card with instructions on maintaining your pounamu
A protective linen eco pouch for bracelets or a certified eco box for pendants
Secure packaging in a recyclable shipping box made from recycled materials

Upgrades and Additional Options:

You can add these upgrades on the product page:

Gift Wrapping: Optional gift wrapping with a personal handwritten tag.
Kete Packaging: Display your pounamu in a traditional kete (flax basket).

Yes, we offer a re-binding service for your treasured pendant or bracelet using expertly hand-woven binding. Renew your valued piece by purchasing our re-binding services here and sending it to our Arrowtown workshop.

If you have a special request for your engraving that isn't covered in the standard options, such as additional characters or a unique symbol, please contact us via email at hello@arrowtownstonework.co.nz.

We will do our best to accommodate your personalised pounamu request

Celebrate Treasured Moments with Pounamu

Over 35 Years of Greenstone Carving in Arrowtown

Our whānau workshop, led by my father, a master carver from Ngāti Kahungunu, carves and shapes traditional Māori designs that celebrate meaning and connection with friends, whānau, or loved ones.

Learn More