14 pounamu Poutini Ngāi Tahu stones (West Coast Ngāi Tahu) weighing nearly 60 kg returned on November 1, 2024.
Photo: Provided

In a ceremony full of emotion and tears, nearly 60kg of pounamu were returned to their rightful guardians, Poutini Ngāi Tahu.

Seized pounamu, including twelve pieces taken from a passenger at Auckland Airport in 2016 and two stones seized from the International Mail Center in 2022, were returned to Manawhenua at Aratura Marae in Hokitika on November 1, 2024.

New Zealand Customs and Ngāi Tahu Pounamu said the return was part of an ongoing joint commitment to end the illegal trade in New Zealand taonga.

François Tumahai, president of Te Rūnanga or Ngāti Waewae, said he was happy their pounamu had returned home.

“Pounamu is part of who we are as Poutini Ngāi Tahu. Our tamariki are raised with the understanding of its meaning and the knowledge of how to find and protect this taonga.”

While thanking Customs for their efforts to stop the illegal trade, Tumahai said there was ongoing concern over attempts to illegally export pounamu for sale abroad.

Customs returned nearly 60kg of pounamu seized at the border to their rightful custodians, Poutini Ngāi Tahu (west coast hapū), in a special ceremony held at Arahura Marae in Hokitika.
Photo: Provided

Legal protections for Pounamu

In Aotearoa it has been illegal to export pounamu for over 70 years unless authorized by the Minister of Customs with the written approval of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the support of Poutini Ngāi Tahu.

Christine Stevenson, comptroller of customs, said this law does not apply to small jewelry or souvenirs.

“Once customs intercepts the pounamu, we go through a rigorous and lengthy process to establish the legality of the export, which can result in formal seizure and forfeiture to the Crown. »

Stevenson said it had been a privilege to take part in Pounamu Taonga’s homecoming ceremony.

“Customs’ focus is not only on enforcement, but also on respecting the pounamu as an important taonga or treasure that must be protected.”

The pounamu stones weighed nearly 60 kg.
Photo: Provided

“Together we can stop the illegal pounamu trade” – An appeal in honor of Ngāi Tahu taonga

For centuries, pounamu has held a special place as a treasured taonga for Ngāi Tahu and their tipuna.

As pounamu only found in the South Island, the name “Te Wai Pounamu”, meaning green rock waters, has deep historical roots in Aotearoa. It is one of the traditional Māori names of the South Island, alongside Te Wāhi Pounamu (the pounamu place), Te Waka-a-Māui (the Māui canoe) and Te Waka o Aoraki (the canoe of Aoraki).

In 1997, the property of pounamu was officially restored to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu through the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act.

However, Tumahai said that although the Crown returned the pounamu to them in 1997, “there was no respect or power to accompany it”.

“We are at the mercy of government departments, police, customs and similar entities to ensure they intercept pounamu as it leaves the country or to ensure compliance on our behalf.”

He said more needed to be done to ensure iwi respected their taonga.

“Some things seem really easy, but for some reason bureaucracy gets in the way and makes it harder than it needs to be.”

Tumahai said it could be as simple as granting iwi and hapū compliance powers over access to mining sites, in the same way that regional councils ask law enforcement officers to check farms, etc.

“To me it seems simple; however, this often seems ignored or placed in the “too hard” basket.

Tumahai also said pounamu carvers and buyers had a responsibility to ensure its authenticity.

“Together we can end the illegal trade in pounamu. Please check that any pounamu you buy has a mark of authenticity and a unique traceability code from Ngāi Tahu Pounamu.”

“This ensures that the seller is licensed and that the stone has not been stolen.”

Tumahai said when you enter here unique traceability code on the Ngāi Tahu Pounamu website it will identify the origin and whakapapa of the stone, as well as the name of the artist who carved it.

“With this knowledge you can be assured that the stone has been treated according to our customs and cut with care.”

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