NZ Stone Information
I regularly sell at markets & events, and the most common conversation is about the stones I use, so I wanted to add some information here for you. I believe its part of my role as an artist to use my years of research and knowledge to educate and share the story of our stones...
Here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, we treasure, wear, create and connect via a stone called Pounamu.
Formed millions of years ago beneath the volcanic rocks that make up Aotearoa, it holds a special significance as a treasure, or taonga, a sacred material revered for its strength and beauty, as well as being traditionally used for the creation of tools, weapons and adornment. Particular shapes & designs hold meaning and as it comes in many colours and patterns, it can become a very personal and particular choice on the pounamu that you choose or is gifted to you. I generally work with more contemporary forms, but I do also create:
Adze - Toki - symbolic of strenth and determination
Teardrop - Roimata - symbolic of compassion and comfort
Hook - He Matau - symbolic for safety when travelling/crossing oceans
Spiral - Koru - symbolic for the journey of life that unfolds
Breastplate- Kōuma - symbolic as protection
Circle - Porohita - symbolic of the moon and circle of life
Under the term Pounamu, according to the governments Pounamu Vesting Act that was enacted in 1997, we class 3 minerals- nephrite jade, serpentine & bowenite (also called tangiwai). In New Zealand these minerals are only found on the South Island, not in the North, hence the South Island is called Te Wai Pounamu. Predominately, they are found on the West Coast, from as far south as Fiordland, as as far north as the Nelson area. In areas along this coastline, different colours, patterns and structures are found, this means that we can identify some stones easily to a certain area via its appearance, such as Marsden Flower Jade, Milford Sound Bowenite, Douglas Creek Serpentine etc. However, generally different types of pounamu have names relating to their appearance- Inanga is named for the small silvery whitebait, kokopu for the spotted trout, putiputi for the floral patterns/colour, kawakawa named for the dark leaves of the horopito pepper tree etc.
The mineral nephrite jade is found across the world, from Russia, Mongolia, Canada, Indonesia, Australia to name a few. Though Aotearoa seems to be one of the only countries that holds it with such reverence that it has become an iconic part of our culture for all, not just Māori. It is often confused with jadeite jade, which is a different mineral mostly found in Myanmar, but both are sometimes referred to just as 'jade' which creates a misconception that If its called jade it must be from Asia. In New Zealand we also have the term greenstone which can be commonly used, however I personally avoid this word as it is misleading, and is really just a slang term applied to the stone when colonialism arrived here. There are many green coloured stones, but not all are pounamu.
Just to be clear, all NZ jade, serpentine & bowenite is Pounamu, but the word Pounamu can only be used when these minerals come from New Zealand- not for foreign stone. Its also important to add, that in New Zealand the law allows people to fossick for and collect pounamu from the beaches only (without the use of machinery), but not from the rivers unless with local iwi permission. The stone collected/carved/sold prior to the vesting act in 1997 is classed as legal stone and is very much still in circulation within the carving industry. The vesting act clearly states that (post 1997) Ngāi Tahu were declared the legal guardians of all pounamu found in its natural state (rivers/mountains).
I enjoy working with other NZ minerals like greywacke/basalt ōnewa, obsidian māta tūhua, argillite pakohe, quartz, jasper, garnet, rhodonite, polychrome schist, aotea, piemontite schist aroha, agate, and essentially any other mineral that crosses my path! Like many kiwis, I have a love of fossicking and we are so fortunate with the range of natural minerals and materials available across our country.
There is so much involved in the history, stories, science and culture of Pounamu, I am only trying to clarify some of the common questions I am asked. Here are some interesting links if you feel like reading further on this topic:
Māori story of Pounamu- Poutini, a guardian Taniwha
Te Ara - Pounamu, jade or greenstone
