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Ngāi Tahu & Pounamu
Jess Deacon • January 17, 2021
Ngāi Tahu is the iwi (tribe) that holds kaitiaki (guardianship) over all of South Island’s pounamu (greenstone). But New Zealand’s colonial history means it hasn’t always been this way. Before we detail the importance and relevance of Ngāi Tahu, we thought it would be helpful to go back a bit in history and provide some context as to why.
Ngāi Tahu is the largest occupying iwi in New Zealand; covering most of the South Island, including all of the known natural sources of Aotearoa’s precious pounamu stone. Ngāi Tahu is an iwi that includes the interweaving of three whakapapa lines from Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu. They were the first people to occupy Te Waipounamu (South Island) - and they held pounamu as an incredibly important resource for their day-to-day living (using the stone as tools) as well as a valuable asset with which to trade and gift.
The arrival of British settlers in the 1800s led to disruption for all iwi around New Zealand, and large-scale land transactions happened without the full understanding of Maori who were unknowingly giving up their rights to an imminent democracy.
The proposed document which was presented and signed in the form of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) in 1840, was apparently intended to formally unite Aotearoa / New Zealand as a new nation. However it carried significant discrepancies between the English and Maori translations and Maori essentially lost independent control over their most valuable and important assets.
It wasn’t until 1997 that the New Zealand government officially returned the ownership rights of pounamu to Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu. They now manage the discovery and distribution of pounamu in accordance with the 2002 Pounamu Management Plan.
But what exactly does this mean?
It means that Aotearoa’s most precious stone is sustainably managed and looked after by an elected group of our country’s indigenous people; acknowledging its virtue as a natural resource and that it’s long been tapu (sacred) as a taonga (treasure) for Maori. This is in part why it’s handed down through generations as a family heirloom - carrying great mana (strength) and meaning with it.
In a day-to-day sense the regulations around pounamu should be understood and respected by all. Genuine New Zealand pounamu is governed by a trace code system. In other words, if you can’t trace your pounamu it’s not authentic New Zealand pounamu. Trace codes identify the origin and whakapapa (genealogy) of a stone which honour and respect its journey to us from the land.
The most important things to know about the discovery and distribution of pounamu are:
*referenced from the Pounamu Management Plan
https://Ngāitahu.iwi.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Pounamu.pdf
- Any member of the public is allowed to fossick for pounamu on the beaches of the West Coast of the South Island and they can take what they find as long as they can carry it on their person without assistance.
- If raw pounamu is discovered outside the areas open to public fossicking and/or is larger than what one person can carry, it is the property of Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu and should be notified to the Pounamu Management Officer immediately
- If an artefact is discovered - such as a Toki (adze) or Hei Tiki (stylised pendant) - it is the property of the Crown and is of particular significance to Ngāi Tahu. It is illegal to remove or interfere in any way with the artefact or the site where it was found. If discovery of an artefact is made on DOC land, DOC should be notified and they will notify Ngāi Tahu. On all other land the local regional museum should be notified who will in turn notify Ngāi Tahu
- When taking pounamu out of New Zealand, it is forbidden to take more than 5 kg of stone. Those wishing to take pounamu out of the country above this limit must apply in writing to The New Zealand Customs Service
There are several other important points about the supply and preservation of pounamu which are also detailed in the Pounamu Management Plan. We highly recommend consulting this governing document if you have a commercial interest in pounamu.
At Moko Pounamu we have a longstanding and vested interest in the discovery and sustainability of pounamu, including a family connection to one of the largest known discoveries of a pounamu boulder, back in the 1970s.
We only work with stone from legitimate sources and artists with respectful intentions. If everyone makes conscious choices to support the sustainability of pounamu in this way then we will all have the opportunity to enjoy pounamu for its beauty and its worth.
