Region Guide
Pounamu in Hawke's Bay Te Matau-a-Māui
Hawke's Bay, known as the fruit bowl of New Zealand, stretches along the eastern coast of the North Island between the art deco city of Napier and the vibrant food and wine hub of Hastings.
It is a region of dramatic skies, long golden beaches, and a deep Māori heritage rooted in the traditions of Ngāti Kahungunu, one of the largest iwi in Aotearoa.
Against this backdrop of culture and natural beauty, pounamu (greenstone) has long been treasured as a taonga of great significance, carried north from the South Island's West Coast through ancient Māori trade routes for centuries.
Today Hawke's Bay is home to a growing pounamu scene, from an exciting new whānau led carving studio in the heart of Napier to established gift and jewellery shops stocking Ngāi Tahu certified greenstone across the region. Whether you are visiting Napier's famous Art Deco precinct, exploring the wine country around Hastings, or simply looking for a meaningful piece of authentic New Zealand jewellery to take home, Hawke's Bay offers genuine pounamu experiences in a beautiful regional setting.
On this page you will find a selection of pounamu carvers, greenstone galleries and shops in Hawke's Bay, where visitors can discover authentic handcrafted pieces and connect with the cultural story of this treasured New Zealand taonga.
Pounamu Carvers, Galleries & Shops in Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay has a growing and diverse pounamu scene, from hands on carving workshops to Ngāi Tahu certified stockists in both Napier and Hastings. Whether you want to carve your own taonga or simply browse and buy, the region has something genuine to offer.
CarverPou Creations
Napier, Hawke's Bay
Whānau-led pounamu carving studio and gallery in the heart of Napier, offering handcrafted taonga, custom pieces, and guided carve-your-own pounamu workshops for visitors.
View Listing
ShopCreative Treasures
Hastings, Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay gift and souvenir shop on Heretaunga Street West, stocking pounamu jewellery and bone carvings from carvers across New Zealand alongside a wider range of Kiwiana gifts.
View ListingAbout Pounamu in Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay sits within the rohe (territory) of Ngāti Kahungunu, one of the largest iwi in New Zealand. The people of Ngāti Kahungunu have treasured pounamu for generations, receiving it through ancient trade routes from Ngāi Tahu in the South Island and gifting it as a symbol of mana, alliance, and spiritual connection. The region’s deep Māori heritage gives pounamu purchased in Hawke’s Bay a particularly meaningful sense of place and cultural connection.
The opening of Pou Creations on Emerson Street in late 2025 marked an exciting new chapter for pounamu in the region, bringing hands on carving workshops to Hawke’s Bay for the first time, in a model similar to the celebrated Bonz ‘n’ Stonz studio in Hokitika. For visitors wanting a truly immersive pounamu experience, carving your own taonga in Napier is now one of the most memorable things to do in Hawke’s Bay.
When purchasing pounamu in Hawke’s Bay look for Ngāi Tahu authentication to guarantee genuine New Zealand origin. To learn more about identifying authentic pounamu visit our guide on how to tell if pounamu is real.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pounamu in Hawke's Bay
No. Pounamu comes only from rivers in Te Wāhipounamu on the South Island, primarily on the West Coast. The pounamu sold and carved in Hawke's Bay has been brought in from those sources, carried north through trade in earlier centuries and now sourced directly by local carvers and retailers.
Pou Creations in central Napier is a whānau-led carving studio offering handcrafted pounamu and carve-your-own workshops, while Creative Treasures in Hastings stocks a wide range of pounamu jewellery alongside other New Zealand gifts.
Ask the retailer where the stone was sourced and who carved it. A reputable seller will be transparent about provenance. For more detail on spotting genuine pounamu, see our full authenticity guide.
There is no such thing as Hawke's Bay pounamu; the stone itself only comes from the South Island. Pieces carved or sold in Hawke's Bay are the same New Zealand greenstone found elsewhere in the country, carved by local artisans such as those at Pou Creations or sold through retailers like Creative Treasures.