Pounamu; New Zealand Greenstone

Pounamu: Stone of Strength, Spirit, and Legacy

Pounamu, often known as New Zealand Greenstone, is far more than a beautiful stone. For Māori, it is a taonga — a treasure imbued with mana, whakapapa, and spiritual significance. For centuries, Pounamu has been revered as a rock of strength, protection, and connection, passed down through generations as both a practical tool and a sacred object.

Today, Pounamu continues to hold a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders and visitors alike — a tangible link to Aotearoa’s land, culture, and enduring stories.

The Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Pounamu

Traditionally found in rivers and mountains of Te Waipounamu (the South Island), Pounamu was carefully worked by Māori into tools, weapons, and adornments. Each piece was valued not only for its durability, but for its spiritual essence.

Pounamu is believed to carry:

• Mana — prestige, authority, and inner strength

• Protection — often worn close to the body as a guardian stone

• Connection — to ancestors, land, and whakapapa

• Endurance — symbolising resilience and continuity

Because of these qualities, Pounamu jewellery is often gifted to mark important life moments: births, journeys, achievements, and remembrance. Once gifted, it is traditionally worn for life and passed on, gathering meaning with time.

Honouring Tradition Through Thoughtful Design

At Wildside Gifts, we approach Pounamu with deep respect. We work with high-quality New Zealand Greenstone, carved with care to honour both the stone and its origins. Each piece is designed to allow the natural beauty of Pounamu to speak — its colour, translucency, and subtle variations are never rushed or overworked.

Our designs are clean, timeless, and intentional, allowing Pounamu’s inherent strength and spirit to remain the focus. Whether set simply or paired with sterling silver, every piece is created to be worn daily and treasured for decades.

Jewellery to Be Valued for Generations

Pounamu is not a trend-driven material. It is a stone that grows in meaning the longer it is worn. Scratches become part of its story; polish deepens with time. A well-made Pounamu piece becomes an heirloom, carrying memories, journeys, and connections from one generation to the next.

Wildside Gifts’ Pounamu jewellery is designed with this legacy in mind:

• Strong, durable carving

• Balanced, wearable proportions

• Timeless forms that transcend fashion

These are pieces intended to be gifted with intention, worn with pride, and eventually passed on — continuing the ancient tradition of Pounamu as a living taonga.

A Connection to Aotearoa

For visitors to New Zealand, Pounamu offers a meaningful way to carry a piece of Aotearoa home. For New Zealanders, it remains a powerful symbol of identity, respect for the land, and continuity across time.

At Wildside Gifts, we are proud to create jewellery that reflects this connection — pieces that honour the past while being worn confidently in the present.