New Zealand Greenstone

New Zealand Greenstone is found on the west coast of New Zealand.

It is a hard and beautiful rock and it is ranked as semi precious. It is carefully carved into pendants of traditional Maori designs. Maori often adorned New Zealand Greenstone pendants to signify an array of meanings from good luck, health, happiness, Status and Mana (pride).

A New Zealand Greenstone pendant is a fantastic and very meaningful gift. The Maori name for greenstone is Pounamu, it is also commonly known as Jade or Nephrite. New Zealand greenstone largely comes from the west coast of the South Island. Some of it is Maori owned land and some of it is Crown owned land BUT special permissions and licences must be obtained before the removal of any Greenstone commences. Sometimes even Gold miners in the right area strike Greenstone instead of gold.

Great New Zealand Souvenirs & Gifts.

Shapes & Their Meanings

Greenstone Whales Tail
$1380.00 (NZD)
Made from New Zealand Greenstone

This whales tail weighs 425gms.
The base is 8cm wide x 4cm depth.
The whole carving is 15.3cm high

The carver is Neil D. Brown
Neil works from his north shore, Auckland studio surrounded by all that inspires
Both his ethical and contemporary designs. He continues to work with greenstone
a medium that overflows with myth and tradition. A stone of Mana (prestige) creating
timeless carvings.

Full Size Solid Greenstone Mere
(Actual Mere in store now)
$780.00 (NZD)
(actual Greenstone Mere 25.5cm long - 850gm) (comes with wooden stand)
The below photograph is the actual Mere you will be purchasing from our store cabinet!
The Greenstone Mere were revered and treasured. They were handed down through the generations.The ancestor of all fighting clubs, beautiful but deadly in its simplicity. A favored move was the forearm thrust to the temples with a sharp twist on contact, which was said to have taken the skull cap off. It was said a practiced proponent in the art of hand combat could decapitate an enemy with one blow.

Greenstone Mere Weapon
(Click here for enlargement)

(Click here for enlargement of both sides)