![\"Customs](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4KHEH0K_image010_jpg.jpeg\")
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\n14 Poutini Ng\u0101i Tahu (West Coast Ng\u0101i Tahu) pounamu stones weighing close to 60 kg returned on 1 November 2024 by New Zealand Customs.
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n
Ng\u0101i Tahu wants to see tougher restrictions on exporting pounamu after a mother and son were found guilty of attempting to illegally export pounamu to China over the legal limit.<\/p>\n
It is the first successful prosecution of its kind by New Zealand Customs after Boyuan Zhang and his mother Xin Li were found carrying almost 18 [17.9] kilograms in their luggage in 2024.<\/p>\n
While not a party to the case, Ng\u0101i Tahu holds legal ownership of all naturally occurring pounamu within its tribal boundaries since 1997 under the Ng\u0101i Tahu Pounamu Vesting Act.<\/p>\n
Ng\u0101ti M\u0101haki ki Makaawhio is one of the kaitiaki or stewardship hap\u016b of Ng\u0101i Tahu with a particular whakapapa connection to pounamu.<\/p>\n
Representative Susan Wallace told Morning Report pounamu is a sacred resource and taonga recognised by many New Zealanders, not just M\u0101ori, who wear it and have a connection to the stone.<\/p>\n
Descendants of Ng\u0101i Tahu attended the trial in the Manukau District Court last month, and Wallace said the verdict was an emotional moment for them.<\/p>\n
“It does serve as a warning that attempts to export pounamu without permission can and will be prosecuted so it’s a huge outcome for us.<\/p>\n
“The case also highlighted a number of areas where the export regime could be strengthened, and that includes the current weight threshold. You can currently export up to five kilograms out of the country – this case showed that you can’t get around that by sharing the weight amongst a group of people, which is what happened in this case.”<\/p>\n
Wallace said Ng\u0101i Tahu had been working with Customs and the police.<\/p>\n
Asked why there was such a large black market for pounamu, Wallace said she believed it was because pounamu was not mined here to the extent it was in other countries.<\/p>\n
“So we’re fortunate to be able to have quite a lot of pounamu that is available. As a result of that, others from overseas are coming in quite regularly to take and export pounamu. We’re actually wanting to tighten that up – we think that the weight needs to be lowered significantly.”<\/p>\n
Exporting pounamu in quantities over five kilograms was only permitted with the approval of the Customs minister.<\/p>\n
Public fossicking for pounamu was only allowed on West Coast beaches, and the size of pounamu allowed to be taken was limited to something you could carry in one hand.<\/p>\n
Rivers were able to be fossicked by Ng\u0101i Tahu wh\u0101nau members, but only with a collection permit granted by the kaitiaki (guardian) r\u016bnanga.<\/p>\n
Wallace said the case showed there were areas of the law that needed to be tightened up, including the weight limit for exporting pounamu.<\/p>\n
“We’d love to see it reduced down completely and that there is a special permit that might be given that would enable it to be taken out legally, but actually with the support of Ng\u0101i Tahu rather than it being something that is, I guess, managed through the government.”<\/p>\n
Ng\u0101i Tahu had an authentication process in place for buyers to check the authenticity of their taonga, she said.<\/p>\n
“So we have a unique traceability code from the seller, you can enter that into the Ng\u0101i Tahu pounamu website and trace back where that particular piece of pounamu came from.<\/p>\n
“It’s a shame that despite this case there [are] so many online listings for illegally sourced stone, so it is showing the scale of the black market pounamu trade at the moment.”<\/p>\n