Te Wahi Pounamu - The Place of Pounamu
Learn about the history of Pounamu and where it was discovered on the South Island of New Zealand - Te Waipounamu.
This semi-precious stone is only found in the South Island, and most often in the rivers of the West Coast.
Discover more about this taonga and where it has been found in our video series below.
Moko Pounamu Knowledge Library
For businesses across Aotearoa, sourcing gifts that are meaningful to the recipient and genuinely memorable can be difficult. Pounamu, with its cultural significance to Aotearoa and natural beauty, is a taonga that makes a perfect gift.
According to tradition, pounamu was born from Papatūānuku. Her tears of sorrow and joy flowed into the rivers of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) after her separation from Ranginui (the Sky Father). These tears crystalised into pounamu, imbuing the stone with her mauri (life force) and mana (spiritual power).
