Types of Pounamu

Kawakawa

Kawakawa is the most recognised and widely available variety of pounamu. Its name comes from the kawakawa plant, a native tree with deep green, heart-shaped leaves, which the stone closely resembles in colour.

It is a nephrite jade, typically mid to dark green with characteristic dark inclusions and markings running through the stone. To an untrained eye, these inclusions might look like flaws, but in Māori tradition they are seen as part of the stone's identity and life. No two pieces of kawakawa are alike.

Kawakawa is the variety most commonly carved into hei tiki, hei matau (fish hooks), and koru pendants. Its availability makes it accessible, but quality varies significantly, dense, richly coloured pieces with interesting patterning are highly regarded.

Kahurangi

Kahurangi is the most prized of all pounamu varieties. The name translates as treasured possession or sky blue, and the finest specimens live up to the name, pale, translucent, and almost luminous when held to light.

Unlike kawakawa, kahurangi has very few inclusions. It ranges from a clear, light green to a soft aqua tone, and its transparency gives carvings an almost glowing quality. Historically, kahurangi was reserved for people of high status, and even today it commands significantly higher prices than other varieties.

If you hold a piece of pounamu to a light source and it appears nearly clear with a pale, cool green tone, you may be looking at kahurangi.

Inanga

Īnanga pounamu takes its name from the īnanga whitebait, a small, silvery fish that was a staple food in traditional Māori life. The resemblance is clear: īnanga stone is pale, often white or creamy grey-green, sometimes with a subtle shimmer or translucency.

It is softer in appearance than kawakawa and has a quieter, more delicate character. Īnanga is moderately rare and has been used for centuries for fine ornaments, and was historically favoured for mere and patu. It suits pendants and smaller carvings well, where its pale tones can be appreciated up close.

Īnanga can sometimes be mistaken for low-quality nephrite or even foreign stone by the untrained eye, which is one reason provenance matters when purchasing pounamu.

Tangiwai

Tangiwai is unique among pounamu types because it is not nephrite, it is bowenite, a form of serpentine. Its name means weeping water or tears, perfectly describing its glassy, watery translucency. Despite the mineralogical difference, tangiwai is recognised as pounamu and has been treasured for centuries, considered by some the most ancient variety.

Found only at Anita Bay, near Milford Sound (Piopiotahi), on the South Island's southwestern coast, tangiwai ranges from aqua blue-green to grey-green, and has a distinctly different quality to nephrite. It is softer, more glassy in texture, and visually striking in a way none of the nephrite varieties quite match.

Because of its limited source, tangiwai is relatively rare. It is most often used for jewellery where its translucency can be showcased.

Kōkopu

Kōkopu is a rare and prized variety of pounamu, named after the native freshwater kōkopu fish, whose markings it resembles. The stone is most often a deep green with distinctive brown, red, or yellowish spotting running through it, giving it a remarkable depth and richness.

Kōkopu pounamu can sometimes feature unique banding or patterns, making each piece distinct. This pounamu is typically more difficult to carve due to its dense structure, but the results are often highly prized for their strength and aesthetic beauty.

Because of its relative rarity and dense nature, kōkopu is typically used for special pieces, including intricate carvings and larger sculptures.

Totoweka

Totoweka pounamu is a rare and intriguing variety of kawakawa, named after the weka bird, whose reddish-brown feathers it echoes (toto meaning blood). Totoweka ranges from pale green to a striking deep green, with veins or spots of dark reddish-brown or black.

This variety is known for its smooth, lustrous surface, which is often polished to a high sheen to bring out its colours. Totoweka is particularly valued for its contrast and clarity, and is generally used for smaller, detailed carvings that highlight its natural beauty.

Raukaraka

Raukaraka is a variation of kawakawa, named after the karaka tree and its orange fruit. The stone shows vibrant yellow and orange streaking mixed with green, often from oxidised crusts bleeding colour through the nephrite.

The dense structure of raukaraka makes it a robust material for carving, often used in more elaborate works that require both strength and intricate detail. This variety is highly regarded for its rich, complex colouring, which makes it ideal for carvings that stand out and display striking contrast.

Putiputi (Flower or Marsden Jade)

Putiputi, meaning flower, is also known as Flower Jade or Marsden Jade, different names for the same variety. It features intricate, naturally occurring patterns that resemble flowers or marbling, and its base colour can range from pale īnanga tones through to rich kahurangi green or deep kawakawa, depending on the piece.

Putiputi is prized for its delicate patterning, which gives it a sense of movement and makes each piece distinct. It is often used for pendants and smaller, more detailed carvings where the patterning can be appreciated up close.

Auhunga

Auhunga sits between īnanga and kawakawa in both colour and texture, with a soft, frosted, often opaque appearance. Its name is sometimes translated as frosty, a fitting description of its muted, matte surface.

Rather than bold patterning, auhunga is appreciated for its subtle tonal variation and smooth texture. It can be worked into both simple and more detailed forms, with its quieter character lending itself well to pieces that emphasise shape and form over dramatic colour.

Aotea

Aotea is a rare and visually striking variety of pounamu, distinguished by its blend of green with shades of blue, grey, or creamy white, creating a layered, almost landscape-like appearance. Like tangiwai, aotea is not nephrite jade, it is composed of kyanite, fuchsite, and quartz, a different mineral entirely, though it is culturally classed as pounamu.

The unique colouring of aotea comes from its mixed mineral composition, giving each piece a highly individual character. It is typically opaque to semi-translucent and can be carved into both bold and intricate designs, and is especially prized for its artistic qualities.

Tahutahi

Tahutahi is considered the rarest of all pounamu types. It is found only on the Cascade Plateau, south of Haast, and is known for its rich, intense green colour scattered with a distinctive white snowflake effect, which has led to the nickname snowflake pounamu or snowflake jade.

Because of its rarity, tahutahi was targeted by theft and illegal trade for years, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu never authorised its sale to outside parties. In 2024, Ngāi Tahu gifted tahutahi pendants to New Zealand's Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and in late 2024 Ngāti Māhaki of Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio began offering it to the public for the first time, through Westland Greenstone in Hokitika.

Given this history, always check a tahutahi piece through the Ngāi Tahu Pounamu authentication scheme before buying.

Hapopo

Hapopo takes its name from Kā Umu o Hapopo (Big Bay) in South Westland, where it is found. It typically ranges from medium to dark forest green, with a distinctive mottled pattern.

Its earthy, textured character makes hapopo a popular choice among carvers, used for pendants, earrings, and sculptural pieces. Several carvers in our directory, including Moko Pounamu and Campbell Carving, work with hapopo.