Tahutahi pounamu sales momentous

For the first time, repatriated and mana-restored Tahutahi pieces are now available for purchase in-store at Westland Greenstone. 

Tahutahi pounamu is only found in the Cascade Plateau, South of Haast, and has never been sold legally on the market before. Known for its vibrant green colour with white flecks, this taonga is extremely rare. Tahutahi was previously referred to by some as 'snowflake jade’. This taonga has been previously gifted by Ngāi Tahu to New Zealand’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and Kuini Nga Wai Hono i te Po during her first official haerenga South.

Tahutahi taonga gifted to New Zealand’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes

It is currently available to purchase in-store at Westland Greenstone in Hokitika.

The public sale of Tahutahi pounamu is momentous for both Ngāi Māhaki and Ngāi Tahu. Prior to this announcement, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Poutini Ngāi Tahu have never given consent to external parties for the collection and sale of Tahutahi. Therefore, this will also be the first time ever that Ngāti Māhaki is selling Tahutahi pounamu to the public.

The Crown’s rights to pounamu in the takiwā of Ngāi Tahu were officially returned to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in 1997 through the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act.

Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick says the history of Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast) is steeped in pounamu, and with Tahutahi that recent history has sadly been marred by large scale thefts and black-market trading of illegally sourced stone.

"This taonga is highly prized for its beauty and rarity, and unfortunately that made it a target for illegal trade through the takiwā,” says Paul Madgwick.

Following prosecutions, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu acquired raw Tahutahi pounamu and carved taonga through a legal process. Some of the taonga that are available for purchase in-store at Westland Greenstone are repatriated and mana restored pieces that were recovered through this process.

Paul Madgwick shares that “after carrying the mamae of these thefts for two decades, it is a big step for Ngāti Māhaki to finally be in a position to honour the mana of our taonga pounamu, and we are excited to be moving forward with this kaupapa."

To ensure that whānau and the public have confidence that they are buying genuine New Zealand Greenstone, in 2010, Ngāi Tahu Pounamu developed an authentication scheme. Ngāi Tahu Pounamu is jointly owned by Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae.

The scheme guarantees that the taonga being sold has been authenticated by Ngāi Tahu.  It displays a mark of authenticity and a unique traceable code, which, when entered online, identifies the whakapapa of the stone.

If people are considering purchasing Tahutahi pounamu, they should ensure they select their authentic taonga from a verified retailer. Currently, Westland Greenstone is the only place selling authentic Tahutahi in-store and it is not available online.

To enquire about Tahutahi, please contact Westland Greenstone here, or phone: +64 03 755 8713