Pounamu - Kawakawa Mere

Our pounamu is made from genuine NZ stone and locally carved here in New Zealand. Our range of 100% handmade pounamu / jade is constantly changing. Please enquire about our current range. From the southern mountains of Aotearoa, pounamu makes its journey down the sacred rivers and beaches to the hands of the kaitiaki (caretakers). It is said pounamu chooses to be revealed. Each Taonga (sacred creature) is lovingly handcrafted using natural spring water, rongoa (native plants) and blessings. The essence of the wearer is absorbed into pounamu and passed through the generations creating precious links.

Kawakawa. A rich green to intense dark green almost black with small dark inclusions. Kawakawa is the most common pounamu variety and is a very popular stone for carving because of its abundance and ability to hold most shapes. It gets its name from the kawakawa leaf or Pepper tree.

Size: 32cm x 9.5cm x 1.3cm

Carver:  Phil Priest
Phil grew up in a family of 5 in Hamilton City. He is a seventh generation New Zealander,  who whakapapa’s back to Tahiti. Phil has always had a passion for the South Pacific and the spiritual and cultural connection to New Zealand.  Phil specialises in a unique variety of New Zealand Pounamu and takes special care in ethically sourcing the stone.