These natural taonga (treasures) are more than just stones - they are the sacred gemstones of Aotearoa. They carry whakapapa (lineage), wairua (spirit), and stories shaped by time, pressure, and the forces of Papatūānuku (Mother Earth).

From the sacred Pounamu of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) to the volcanic Matā (Obsidian) of Tūhua (Mayor Island), each stone has its own unique identity, energy, and place in Aotearoa’s landscape. Whether shaped into sacred pendants, tools, or ceremonial pieces, these stones connect us to the land, our ancestors, and the journeys we walk today.

Pounamu, also known as New Zealand Greenstone, is found only in the South Island, known traditionally as Te Wāhi Pounamu (The Place of Pounamu). It is incredibly strong, valued for its durability, their mana (prestige spiritual essence, power), and cultural significance.

Each variety of Pounamu holds its own whakapapa, appearance, and meaning:

NEPHRITE JADE

​Kawakawa is one of the most common types of Pounamu (New Zealand greenstone), characterized by its rich, dark green color with occasional black flecks. This variety is named after the Kawakawa tree (Macropiper excelsum), as its hue resembles the deep green of the tree's leaves.

NEPHRITE JADE

Īnanga is a highly prized variety of Pounamu, known for its silky translucence and soft grey-green hues, reminiscent of the shimmering īnanga fish (whitebait). With a fine-grained, smooth texture, it has a gentle, almost glowing quality, ranging from pale green and silvery-grey to misty blue and light olive tones.

NEPHRITE JADE

Kahurangi is one of the rarest and most prized varieties of Pounamu, celebrated for its exceptional translucency and luminous, vibrant green hue. Its name, meaning "treasured possession" in Māori, reflects its flawless clarity, making it a truly revered taonga (treasure).

BOWENITE

Tangiwai, a form of Bowenite, is highly translucent and glass-like, ranging from olive to deep blue-green. Its name means “tears of great sorrow,” referring to a legend in which the wife of a great chief was stolen, and his grief-stricken tears transformed into the stone Tangiwai.

NEPHRITE JADE

Totoweka is a striking variety Pounamu, known for its deep green hues streaked with rich red veins caused by Iron deposits. Its name, meaning "Weka blood" in Māori, comes from its resemblance to the crimson markings of the Weka bird, a treasured native species.

NEPHRITE JADE

Kōkopu Pounamu, named after the native freshwater Kōkopu fish, is known for its rich olive-green tones and distinctive dark speckles, mirroring the markings of its namesake. Resembling the dappled light of a riverbed, this Pounamu carries a deep connection to Aotearoa’s waterways and natural landscapes.

NEPHRITE JADE

With its golden, brown, and cream patterns, Putiputi is one of the most artistic and visually captivating forms of Pounamu. Named after the Māori word 'putiputi,' meaning 'flower,' its delicate, flowing patterns resemble blossoms in stone. Also known as Marsden or Flower Jade, this rare Pounamu is a true taonga (treasure), perfectly symbolizing nature’s artistry and renewal.

NEPHRITE JADE

Named for its golden-green hues, Ruakaraka Pounamu mirrors the vibrant Karaka tree berries. The word "Rua" means "two" or "source," symbolizing both the stone’s dual tones of green and gold and its rich, natural origins. With intricate, flowing patterns, each piece is truly one of a kind.

Geologically, Serpentine and Serpentinite are often found alongside Pounamu. These stones are precursors to Jade—with more heat, pressure, and time, Serpentine and Serpentinite have the potential to transform into Nephrite Jade.

A smooth, waxy mineral with lush green hues, Serpentine is slightly softer than Nephrite Jade yet holds a unique charm all its own. With its rich patterns and natural variations, no two pieces are alike, making it a treasured stone in Aotearoa. The Korotangi, or 'bird of sorrow,' is a revered artifact carved from Serpentine, believed to have been brought from Hawaiki in an ancestral waka. This sacred taonga carries deep cultural significance, symbolizing ancestral connection and heritage.

Serpentinite is treasured for its vivid green translucent “windows”, beautifully contrasted by deep, earthy tones. Its natural glow and ever-changing patterns make each piece a one-of-a-kind treasure. Formed over millions of years, this metamorphic rock originates from ultramafic minerals and often carries darker hues, with some pieces even containing traces of Nephrite Jade. This transformation from SerpentinIte to Jade mirrors the geological journey of Pounamu, shaped under immense pressure deep within the Earth.

Beyond Pounamu, Aotearoa is home to other rare and culturally significant stones, each holding its own story:

Hine Aotea is known for its striking blue-green translucency, formed from Blue Kyanite, Fuchsite, and Quartz. According to Māori legend, Hine Aotea was lost in the Makawhio River and transformed into stone, symbolizing purity, renewal, and transformation - revered as Aotearoa’s ultimate feminine stone. With its limited availability and rich history, Hine Aotea is one of New Zealand’s rarest stones, second only to Goodletite (Ruby Rock).

Unique to Westland, New Zealand, Goodletite - also known as Ruby Rock - is an exceptionally rare gemstone containing Ruby and Sapphire crystals embedded in a striking green matrix of Zoisite, Fuchsite, and Pargasite. As the only known deposit of its kind in the world, it stands as one of Aotearoa’s most precious and visually captivating treasures.

A unique variety of Garnet, Hydrogrossular is often found near Pounamu deposits. It comes in shades of pale jade, deep emerald, grey, yellow, white, brown, and rustic orange, with its rich colours formed by Calcium and Silica replacing Aluminum in its structure. Highly prized for carving, it polishes beautifully while maintaining durability. Though sometimes mistaken for Pounamu, Hydrogrossular Garnet’s crystalline texture and glassy luster set it apart as a stunning gemstone in its own right.

Discovered in 2020 by fossicker Shayne Anthony Hancock in Golden Bay, New Zealand, Obay Stone is a rare and captivating gemstone, showcasing breathtaking variations of blue, green, and golden hues. Its unique composition - featuring Kyanite, Fuchsite, Quartz, Chromian Muscovite, Biotite, and Chlorite - creates intricate patterns that make each piece truly one of a kind. Named after the region where it was first found, Obay Stone has quickly gained recognition as one of Aotearoa’s most striking natural treasures.

While Pounamu is found exclusively in the South Island, Māori in the North Island carved other stones for tools, weapons, and adornments:

Found in several locations across Aotearoa, including Tūhua (Mayor Island), Taupō, and Rotorua, Obsidian (Matā) is a natural volcanic glass prized by Māori for its razor-sharp edges, used in tools, weapons, and carvings. Its glossy, reflective surface also held spiritual significance for protection and insight. In Māori legend, Obsidian played a role in the story of Māui and Hine-nui-te-pō, the goddess of the underworld, marking the moment that mortality came to humankind.

A durable, fine-grained sedimentary rock, Chert was highly valued by Māori for its sharp edges and strength, making it an essential material for cutting tools, drills, and fish hooks. Found throughout Aotearoa, it played a key role in early Māori craftsmanship, especially among moa hunters in Otago. Its ability to fracture into precise, sharp flakes made it perfect for toolmaking and pā (fortified village) construction. Though not as well-known as Pounamu, Chert remains a significant part of New Zealand’s history, reflecting the resourcefulness and ingenuity of early Māori.

A fine-grained volcanic rock, Basalt was highly valued by Māori for its strength and ability to hold a sharp edge, making it ideal for adzes, chisels, and other essential tools. Sourced from places like the Tahanga Quarries in the Coromandel, its durability and smooth finish made it a key material in traditional Māori craftsmanship. In Māori legend, Basalt formations are tied to stories of love and rivalry, such as Kakepuku and Kawa, two Basaltic mountains said to be lovers facing great challenges to be together. Beyond its strength, Basalt also possesses musical qualities. When suspended and struck, certain Basalt columns produce clear, resonant tones, much like a natural stone instrument. These unique acoustic properties highlight the multi-dimensional nature of Basalt, not only as a toolstone but also as a material that carries the song of the earth.

Forged beneath the sea over 230 million years ago, Greywacke is a stone of unyielding strength, woven into the very foundations of Aotearoa. Māori recognized its tough, resilient nature, shaping it into adzes, chisels, and patu onewa (stone clubs) - tools that built villages, carved waka, and upheld traditions. Wellington, the only New Zealand city built entirely on Greywacke bedrock, is a testament to its enduring presence. A symbol of hard work and resilience, this ancient stone carries the spirit of the land, standing strong through time.

Argillite (Pakohe) is a rare and highly prized stone, known for its fine-grained texture, strength, and ability to hold a razor-sharp edge. Found in Nelson, Marlborough, and D’Urville Island, it was expertly shaped into adzes, chisels, and blades, essential for daily life and craftsmanship. According to Māori legend, the great journey of Ngahue and Poutini brought precious stone resources to Aotearoa, making Argillite a taonga (treasure) of skill and resilience. A true symbol of precision and mastery, this enduring stone reflects the ingenuity of those who shaped it into tools that built a way of life.

Each of these stones carries its own wairua (spirit) and journey. Whether you are drawn to the deep strength of Pounamu, the volcanic energy of Obsidian, or the rare beauty of Goodletite, the right taonga will always find its way to you.

Explore our collection and discover the stone that speaks to your soul.

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