A Dunedin man has been charged after police seized 820 kilograms of pounamu. The stone, cut and prepared for sale, was discovered during a Monday search. The 29-year-old appeared in court on obstruction charges, and police indicate additional charges related to the pounamu are under consideration.
Ngāi Tahu reports that some of the stolen pounamu had been hacked and quarried from remote sites, then illegally sold to carvers across the country. Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairperson Paul Madgwick said Ngāti Māhaki, the local hapū, welcomed the quick police response to what has been an ongoing taonga theft issue. He noted that Ngāi Tahu had alerted police after the matter came to light via online and community channels.
“This complaint arose because the individual brazenly displayed our stolen pounamu as though it authorized their own possession—clearly not the case. We are collaborating closely with the Police to stop further theft of our taonga,” Madgwick stated.
According to Madgwick, all pounamu is easily identifiable and traceable to specific catchments. Public gathering is permitted only on West Coast beaches and only for small pieces that can be carried in one hand. Rivers may be fossicked by Ngāi Tahu whānau with a collection permit issued by the local kaitiaki rūnanga, in this instance Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, which acts as kaitiaki of South Westland.
If there is any doubt about pounamu gathering rules or ownership—whether by the general public or someone with Ngāi Tahu whakapapa—people are urged to contact the local rūnanga or Ngāi Tahu Pounamu to confirm what is permissible, Madgwick added.
The man appeared in Dunedin District Court and was released on bail.
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