Customs officers stop mother, son from illegally exporting 18kg of pounamu, pair fined $5000

NZ Herald

5 Jun, 2026 01:45 AM2 mins to read

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The 18kg of pounamu intercepted at Auckland International Airport.

In the first case of its kind, a mother and son have been slapped with a $5000 fine after attempting to smuggle 18kg of pounamu out of Auckland International Airport.

The 28-year-old man and 54-year-old woman have been ordered to pay a fine of $5000 in the Manukau District Court,
in the first conviction by Customs of an illegal export of pounamu.

The pair was found with 18kg of the protected stone during a baggage search on July 1, 2024. The legal export limit of the product in raw, partial or fully processed form is 5kg, unless approved by the Minister of Customs.

During questioning, the man acknowledged he knew of the export limit but did not have the required consent.

Customs records show the man had also previously contacted the border authority, to enquire about pounamu his father had attempted to take on a flight to China, through Auckland International Airport, in May the same year.