New Zealand Pounamu (Sandwich Jade) Display Slab (XL) Ref 0145

Pounamu, known as New Zealand greenstone or jade, is a highly durable, spiritually significant stone found exclusively in the South Island. Treasured by Māori as taonga (treasure), it symbolizes strength, protection, and connection to the land.

Worn as jewellery or used in carvings, varieties include:

• Kawakawa: The most abundant and widely used variety. It features a rich, dark forest-green hue and frequently displays dark speckles or inclusions. It is named after the native kawakawa tree leaf.
• Kahurangi: The rarest and most highly prized variety of nephrite. It is exceptionally clear and vibrant apple-green with high translucency and minimal flaws. Its name translates to "clearness of the sky".
• Īnanga: A pale, milky stone named after the native freshwater minnow (whitebait). It exhibits pearly-white or soft grey-green tones and ranges from translucent to opaque. It can deepen into an olive-brown over time as it absorbs natural skin oils.
• Tangiwai: Geologically bowenite rather than nephrite, but deeply integrated into the pounamu family. It is highly translucent to completely clear like glass, displaying deep olive, yellowish, or blue-green hues. Its name means "tears of water".

• Flower Jade (Putiputi): A highly prized variation distinguished by unique yellow, gold, or orange patterning blooming across the green stone. These patterns are caused by natural weathering on the outer rind of the boulder.
• Totoweka: A rare sub-variety of kawakawa featuring small reddish-brown dots or streaks. Its name translates literally to "weka blood", comparing the markings to the coloration of the native flightless bird.
• Raukaraka: An opaque and exceptionally hard stone known for its striking olive-green, orange, and golden-yellow streaks. It takes its name from the yellowish leaves of the native karaka tree.
• Kōkopu: A diverse, heavily speckled or mottled variety with dark spots over olive, brown, or light fawn backdrops. Its unique aesthetic mimics the patterned skin of the native kōkopu trout.
• Pīpīwharauroa: A rare occurrence found within īnanga or kawakawa varieties that exhibits a chatoyant "cat's eye" effect. Shimmering bands of light move across the surface, mirroring the green-and-white plumage of the shining cuckoo bird.
• Auhunga: A pale, opaque green stone with a frosty, milky appearance that resembles the snow on the Southern Alps.
• Chatoyant: A highly unique stone mostly sourced from the Arahura River. It displays a narrow, shifting silvery band of light across its surface.
• Mutton Fat Stone: An exceptionally rare variety characterized by a muddy grey-green hue, no distinct internal grain, and a notably waxy finish when polished.
• Tahutahi/Snowflake jade which is considered one of the absolute rarest and most exclusive varieties of greenstone in existence

No two stones are the same — making these lovely unique display slabs truly one of a kind, sourced from the West Coast, Coastal South Westland, and Otago.

Historically used for weapons and tools, pounamu is now primarily a cherished personal ornament or gift. Real NZ pounamu features natural imperfections (lines, cloudiness) — a mark of its authenticity, not a flaw.

I am a hobby carver working from my home. I do all the work myself — from sourcing the stones, shaping, and polishing, all the way through to the completed product you see today.

No two stones are the same — making these lovely unique display slabs truly one of a kind, sourced from the West Coast, Coastal South Westland, and Otago. Historically used for weapons and tools, pounamu is now primarily a cherished personal ornament or gift. Real NZ pounamu features natural imperfections (lines, cloudiness) — a mark of its authenticity, not a flaw. I am a hobby carver working from my home. I do all the work myself — from sourcing the stones, shaping, and polishing, all the way through to the completed product you see today.

 Ref: 0145 (For my use)