Aotearoa New Zealand · Stone Carving / Jewelry
Pounamu
Pounamu (greenstone — New Zealand nephrite jade) is the most sacred material in Māori culture — the only gemstone of Aotearoa, found exclusively on the West Coast of Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island). Under the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act (1998), all pounamu in its natural state belongs to Ngāi Tahu (the South Island iwi), who manage its collection and distribution. Pounamu carving produces the hei tiki (chest pendant representing the human form), hei matau (fish hook pendant), and kuru (ear pendant) that are among the most recognized cultural objects of the Pacific. The defining technical challenge is pounamu's extreme toughness: nephrite jade is one of the toughest minerals on earth — it resists shattering in a way that makes it almost impossible to carve with metal tools alone. The defining knowledge is the wet abrasive grinding sequence — 'pounamu is never cut; it is only worn away.'
Risk level: Endangered · New Zealand national ICH list; pounamu legally protected under Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act (1998)
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