Judge orders return of pounamu

Mark Solomon with pounamu. File photo / Simon Baker

A judge has ordered that pounamu (greenstone), valued at $750,000, stolen from South Westland be returned to its rightful owners Ngai Tahu.

In a closed hearing in Greymouth District Court this week, Judge Gary MacAskill ruled that the seized snowflake pounamu belonged to the iwi and should be returned by Greymouth police who were holding it, The Press reported.

The pounamu was seized in a police raid on two Hokitika jade outlets in March. Snowflake pounamu is found only on the Cascade Plateau in South Westland, and owner Ngai Tahu had never given permission for it to be removed.

Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon said the judge had sent a clear message snowflake pounamu was the property of Ngai Tahu and could not be legally sold.

He said anyone with snowflake pounamu was holding stolen property and it must be returned.

Investigations into the illegal possession and trade of pounamu would continue, he said.

- NZPA