A landmark court case involving the attempted export of pounamu has renewed calls for stronger protections for one of Aotearoa’s most treasured taonga.
A mother and son have been sentenced after being found guilty of attempting to illegally export 17.9 kilograms of pounamu from New Zealand through Auckland International Airport in 2024. The case marks the first successful prosecution under the Customs Export Prohibition (Pounamu) Order 2021, which prohibits the export of five kilograms or more of raw or partially processed pounamu without approval.
The pair were intercepted by Customs officers while attempting to leave the country with the stone concealed in their luggage. Court proceedings also heard that another member of the same family had previously been stopped while attempting to export more than 60 kilograms of pounamu.
Poutini Ngāi Tahu has welcomed the conviction, describing it as an important step in protecting the mana of pounamu and reinforcing the legal safeguards surrounding its export. Ngāi Tahu holds legal ownership of naturally occurring pounamu within its tribal boundaries under the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997.
The case has also highlighted concerns about a growing black market trade in pounamu, both online and overseas. Ngāi Tahu representatives say illegal extraction and export continue to threaten a taonga that carries deep cultural, historical, and spiritual significance for Māori and New Zealanders alike.
The conviction has prompted renewed calls for changes to export laws, including lowering the current five-kilogram threshold and strengthening enforcement powers to prevent smugglers exploiting potential loopholes. Questions have also been raised about whether decision-making authority over pounamu exports should sit more directly with Ngāi Tahu as kaitiaki.
Recent seizures by police and Customs indicate the scale of the challenge. Authorities have intercepted significant quantities of illegally obtained pounamu in recent years, while iwi leaders say online marketplaces continue to feature suspicious listings for stone that may have been sourced unlawfully.
For Ngāi Tahu, the case is about more than the unlawful removal of a natural resource. Pounamu is regarded as a taonga that embodies whakapapa, identity, and cultural connection, making its protection a matter of both law and tikanga.
The case is expected to influence future enforcement efforts and add momentum to discussions about strengthening protections for pounamu as demand for the treasured stone continues to grow internationally.
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