Region Guide
Pounamu in Tasman Te Tai-o-Aorere
The Tasman district sits at the top of New Zealand's South Island, bordered by Nelson to the east and the West Coast to the south.
Best known for Abel Tasman National Park, Golden Bay, and a strong tradition of local arts and crafts, Tasman also holds a lesser known distinction: it is one of only a handful of places in New Zealand where genuine pounamu occurs naturally outside the main West Coast source.
Nephrite deposits linked to the Dun Mountain Ophiolite Belt run through the Cobb Valley and parts of Golden Bay, giving the region its own small but real connection to the stone, distinct from the rivers around Hokitika that most people associate with pounamu. To understand how this fits among the different types of pounamu found across New Zealand, it helps to know that nephrite is only one of several varieties Māori classify by colour and origin. This local supply is part of why a small number of skilled carvers have made Golden Bay their home, working stone that, in some cases, comes from the ground beneath their own studios.
On this page you will find pounamu carvers working in the Tasman district, where visitors can discover handcrafted greenstone pieces and learn about the stone's quieter, lesser-known northern story. For more on how pounamu formed across different parts of New Zealand, see our history and origins guide.
Pounamu Carvers, Galleries & Shops in Tasman
Tasman’s pounamu scene is small, personal, and rooted in Golden Bay’s long-standing arts community. Both carvers currently listed here work from their own studios rather than retail storefronts, and visits are generally by appointment. If you’re deciding what to look for before you buy, our buying and gifting guide covers what to ask any carver about provenance and care.
CarverWayne Costar
Takaka, Golden Bay, Tasman
Multimedia carver and sculptor with over 30 years of experience working in New Zealand pounamu, wood, shell and bone. Also creates traditional taonga puoro.
View Listing
CarverGeoff Williams
Onekaka, Golden Bay, Tasman
Hand carves traditional and contemporary pounamu sourced from the West Coast, alongside paua and mother of pearl. Studio visits by appointment.
View Listing
Discover What Each Design Means
From the koru to the hei tiki, every traditional pounamu design carries its own story and symbolism.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Pounamu in Tasman
Yes, though only in small, localised amounts. Nephrite deposits connected to the Dun Mountain Ophiolite Belt occur in parts of Golden Bay and the Cobb Valley, making Tasman one of the few places in New Zealand outside the West Coast where genuine pounamu naturally occurs.
Tasman's pounamu carvers are concentrated around Golden Bay and Takaka, generally working from home studios rather than retail shops. Check the listings above for current carvers in the region.
It's the same mineral, nephrite jade, but formed through a different, localised geological process. Tasman's supply is far smaller and less commercially developed than the West Coast's. See our types of pounamu guide for more on how different varieties are classified.
It varies by carver. Some incorporate locally found nephrite, while others, like much of the broader pounamu trade, carve stone sourced from the West Coast. Ask a carver directly if local provenance matters to you.