GREENSTONE
POUNAMU, GREENSTONE & NEW ZEALAND JADE
ALL NAMES FOR THE SAME HARD, DURABLE HIGHLY VALUED STONE
About Moreton Jewellery Greenstone
Pounamu is a taonga (treasure) in to the Maori people. Found mostly on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand, it is protected under the Treaty of Waitangi. Since 1997 all Pounamu is owned and managed by the South Island iwi Ngai Tahu.
Traditionally the Maori used Pounamu for tools, weapons and jewellery. It is a very hard and durable stone and in pre-european times was used extensively by the tangata whenua.
There is a special process for anyone who finds, uses or sells Greenstone in New Zealand and Moreton Jewellery complies with these processes.
“The South Island Ngāi Tahu people have a particularly close relationship with pounamu, which is found only within their tribal area. It is valued for its strength, durability and beauty. However, its value transcends the aesthetic and practical properties. Because of its link with chiefs and peace making, it is considered to have mana (status) and to be tapu (sacred). The stone is highly treasured by all tribes throughout New Zealand, and it was extensively traded in the North Island.”
– The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
We also import product from around the globe in the manufacture of some of our products under the Aroha brand.
