Region Guide
Pounamu in the West Coast Te Tai Poutini
The West Coast of New Zealand's South Island is the historic home of pounamu (greenstone), and the only place in the world where it is found.
Known in te reo Māori as Te Tai Poutini, this rugged region has long been associated with the rivers and mountains where pounamu is gathered. For generations, Māori have valued pounamu as a taonga (treasure) used for tools, weapons, and meaningful jewellery, and the region remains under the kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of Ngāi Tahu today.
Today, the West Coast remains the best place in New Zealand to discover authentic pounamu carvings, greenstone jewellery, and traditional jade craftsmanship. Towns like Hokitika and Greymouth are well known for their talented carvers, artisan workshops, and galleries that showcase stone sourced from nearby rivers such as the Arahura River, one of the most important traditional sources of pounamu.
On this page you'll find a selection of pounamu carvers, greenstone galleries, shops, and carving experiences on the West Coast, where visitors can learn about the cultural significance of pounamu and explore handcrafted pieces created by local artists. To understand what sets genuine West Coast pounamu apart, see our authenticity guide.
Pounamu Carvers, Galleries & Shops on the West Coast
The West Coast is the only place in the world where pounamu is found, and Hokitika and Greymouth remain home to some of New Zealand’s most respected jade carvers and galleries. Many work stone gathered directly from the Arahura River and other nearby sources, carrying on a tradition of carving in the same place the pounamu itself comes from.
CarverGarth Wilson
Greymouth, West Coast
West Coast pounamu carver whose family connections to Ngāti Mahaki and Ngāti Waewae give him customary rights to gather his own greenstone from local rivers and mountains.
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GalleryTraditional Jade Co.
Hokitika, West Coast
Family-owned pounamu gallery of Ngāi Tahu descent on Tancred Street, Hokitika, run across three generations since 1998, with one of the largest displays of raw jade on the West Coast.
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CarverCarved in Stone
Hokitika, West Coast
Hand-carved pounamu jewellery and mere from carver Brittany Lissington's family workshop, drawing on traditional Māori forms found in jewellery, weapons, and tools.
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GalleryTe Koha Gallery
Franz Josef, West Coast
Family-run gallery and carve-your-own-pounamu studio founded by the Goodall whānau in 2010, now based on their farm near Franz Josef, offering an immersive greenstone carving experience.
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Discover What Each Design Means
From the koru to the hei tiki, every traditional pounamu design carries its own story and symbolism.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pounamu on the West Coast
The West Coast holds some of the most significant traditional pounamu rivers in New Zealand, including the Arahura River near Hokitika. Māori have gathered and worked pounamu from this region for centuries, and the West Coast remains under the kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of Ngāi Tahu today.
Most genuine New Zealand pounamu comes from the West Coast, though smaller deposits also occur further south in Otago, Fiordland, and the Nelson and Tasman districts. Carvers and retailers across the country source much of their stone from West Coast rivers regardless of where they are based.
Hokitika and Greymouth are home to long-running carvers and galleries such as Garth Wilson, Traditional Jade Co., and Carved in Stone, while Te Koha Gallery near Franz Josef offers a carve-your-own-pounamu experience.
It is possible but rare, since most accessible pounamu has already been gathered over generations. Ngāi Tahu hold customary ownership of all South Island pounamu, and removing it from public conservation land without authorisation is against the law, so any stone you find should be treated with respect for tikanga and left in place unless you have explicit permission to collect it.
Ask the carver or retailer where the stone was sourced and who carved it. Many West Coast carvers can speak directly to the river or area their stone came from. For more detail on spotting genuine pounamu, see our full authenticity guide.
All genuine pounamu is the same nephrite jade regardless of where it is sold, but West Coast stone is often prized for being sourced and carved in the same region it comes from, with a documented connection to a specific river or area. Colour and pattern vary naturally between different rivers and deposits rather than between regions of sale.