Pounamu Management Plan
In September 1997, the Crown handed back the ownership of all naturally occurring pounamu within the Ngai Tahu rohe to Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu - through the Ngai Tahu Pounamu Vesting Act, as part of the overall Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement.
A piece of tangiwai or takiwai gathered by Murihiku Runanga members at Anita Bay in June 2001.
This was with the exception of the pounamu in the Arahura river catchment which was vested in the Mawhera Incorporation as recommended by the Waitangi Tribunal.
Since the passing of that act, Te Rūnanga has worked steadily with its Kaitiaki and Papatipu Rūnanga on creating an appropriate system for managing pounamu.
In late 2000, Te Rūnanga set up the Ngai Tahu Pounamu Management Group (NTPMG) made up of representatives of Kaitiaki Rūnanga to develop the policies and processes for the management and protection of the pounamu owned by Te Rūnanga, and to facilitate the devolvement to, and empowerment of, Kaitiaki Rūnanga to manage pounamu in their respective takiwa.
Kaitiaki Rūnanga include those Papatipu Rūnanga who have a long standing mana whenua relationship with the pounamu occurring in their takiwa, including Kati Waewae, Makaawhio, combined Otago and combined Murihiku Rūnanga.
A major part of the work of the NTPMG was the creation and implementation of the resource management plan for pounamu.
Ngai Tahu Pounamu Resource Management Plan
In September 2002 Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu approved the Pounamu Resource Management Plan - our blueprint of how best to look after pounamu to ensure its sustainability for the future. This plan is of considerable significance for Ngai Tahu, it demonstrates our ability to manage a taonga, a natural resource and a commercially valuable commodity while upholding its cultural importance along with the mana and rangatiratanga of the iwi. It has taken 5 years and many hui but we now have a positive and powerful tool to move forward, mō tatou, a, mō ka uri a muri ake nei. - Mark Solomon, Kaiwhakahaere.
What is the Pounamu Resource Management Plan?
Ngai Tahu is the kaitiaki (guardian) of pounamu, the prized greenstone found in Te Waipounamu (the South Island of New Zealand. The Ngai Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997 formally made Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu responsible for the ownership and management of pounamu.
As a result, the iwi has developed a resource management plan that allows for the on-going use and protection of this resource in a way that is sustainable and responsible: mō tatou, a, mō ka uri a muri ake nei (for us and our children after us).
The plan is designed to inform all stakeholders about how Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu and its Kaitiaki Rūnanga (sub-tribal councils) will manage the resource and covers the following areas:
- The Ngāi Tahu relationship and values associated with pounamu.
- The roles and responsibilities of, and relationships between, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Kaitiaki Rūnanga and other groups involved in pounamu management.
- The objectives, policies and processes covering the protection, collection, extraction and supply of pounamu.
Naturally occurring pounamu found within the Ngai Tahu tribal area is the property of Ngai Tahu, excluding the Arahura River Catchment area which is vested in the Mawhera Incorporation, and is protected from theft under the Crimes Act 1961.
The Pounamu Resource Management Plan therefore relates to all pounamu vested in Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu within the Ngai Tahu tribal takiwa (area), excluding the Arahura River Catchment, and explains what this means for the public regarding the collection of pounamu within this area.
Who Administers the Plan?
Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu works closely with the Kaitiaki Rūnanga to manage pounamu. A Pounamu Management Officer is employed by Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu to liaise between Kaitiaki Rūnanga and external agencies. This person is the first point of contact on all matters relating to the pounamu management plan.
Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu * Ownership of pounamu on behalf of Ngai Tahu Whanui |
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Ngai Tahu Pounamu Resource Management Plan Overarching policies and processes for the management of pounamu developed by the NTPMG, including: * Roles, responsibilities and relationships * Protection mechanisms and policy * Fossicking and collection policy * Sustainable extraction policy * Supply mechanisms |
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Rūnanga Kaitiaki Pounamu * Kaitiaki of the pounamu resource in their takiwa for management and control |
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| Pounamu Management Officer Administers the management plan on behalf of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu and serve as a liaison between external agencies and Kaitiaki Runanga where appropriate. |
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How Can I Collect Pounamu?
Public Fossicking
Ngai Tahu recognises that fossicking for small amounts of pounamu is an important cultural activity for all New Zealanders. Public fossicking for pounamu is allowed on the beaches of Te Tai o Poutini (the West Coast of the South Island) and is limited to what an individual can carry in their person or backpack within a 24-hour period - this means what an individual can physically lift by themselves and take unaided to their mode of transport and the key is 'can carry' on their person. (The beaches open for public fossicking appear in green and blue on the map)
Rahui/Restrictions
Fossicking and collection can only take place in areas where the Kaitiaki Rūnanga have not placed a restriction to protect pounamu from over use or for heritage reasons. These restrictions can be temporary or permanent and restrict both activity and locations available for collection. These restrictions may be placed from time to time and will be notified if they effect public fossicking.
Therefore it is sensible to contact the Pounamu Management Officer or the local Rūnanga before fossicking. The public is not entitled to fossick on land administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC). On all other land pounamu cannot be collected without the prior permission of Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu and the appropriate Kaitiaki Rūnanga. If it is private land, the authority of the landowner to access land is also required.
Customary and Cultural Collection
In areas outside those open to public fossicking, including rivers and lands administered by DOC, customary and cultural collection of pounamu may take place under the korowai (protective cloak) of the Kaitiaki Rūnanga. Ngai Tahu who are not members of the Kaitiaki Rūnanga wishing to collect pounamu in these areas must first contact the Kaitiaki Rūnanga. Cultural collection for other iwi and the public will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis via the Kaitiaki Rūnanga.
What else do I need to know?
Discovery of Pounamu and Pounamu Artifacts
Occasionally erosion, land movement and development can unearth raw pounamu and pounamu artifacts. Any raw pounamu, such as a boulder, discovered outside the areas upon to public fossicking and/or larger than what one can carry is the property of Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu and should be notified to the Pounamu Management Officer immediately.
Any artifact, such as a Toki (adze) or Heitiki (stylized pendant) is the property of the Crown and is of particular significance to Ngai Tahu. It is illegal to remove or interfere in any way with the artifact or the site where it was found.
If a discovery of an artifact is made on DOC land, DOC should be notified and they will in turn notify Ngai Tahu. On all other land the local regional museum should be notified who will in turn notify Ngai Tahu.
Ngai Tahu works with DOC and the Department of Culture and Heritage to make sure that all artifacts are protected to safeguard heritage, cultural values and learning for future generations. That is why it is important to leave artifacts where they are found (unless they are under immediate threat such as erosion) and notify the appropriate government department who will work with the Kaitiaki Rūnanga to ensure the artifacts conservation and safety.
Extraction
Extraction and mining of pounamu will only be undertaken by the Kaitiaki Rūnanga of Ngai Tahu and will be based on comprehensive research and monitoring of pounamu deposits. Therefore, no mining rights will be extended to external parties at this stage. It is intended that some areas of particular importance will be placed under rahui to protect them for future generations.
In certain areas where extraction may be feasible, Kaitiaki Rūnanga have decided to undertake further research with the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences to assess the sustainability of the pounamu deposits before commercial extraction is decided upon.
Indirect Extraction and Accidental Discovery
When pounamu is unearthed as a result of another permitted activity, such as gold mining or building developments it cannot be removed without consultation with and the approval of Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu and the appropriate Kaitiaki Rūnanga. Should you discover pounamu in this way it is important to contact the Pounamu Management Officer.
Supply
Apart from allowing for public fossicking on West Coast beaches, Ngai Tahu is also committed to supplying pounamu to the commercial pounamu industry and making it available for tribal cultural purposes such as koha or the gifting of mauri stones.
Kaitiaki Rūnanga will undertake all supply of pounamu to the commercial industry and will also make pounamu available to the Ngai Tahu Pataka Pounamu (tribal storehouse). Those interested in obtaining pounamu in this way should contact the Pounamu Management Officer.
The Ngai Tahu Pounamu Trademark
Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu is developing a pounamu trademark to guarantee authentic Ngai Tahu pounamu and to protect pounamu from foreign imported jades that may be traded as pounamu. This trademark will identify Ngai Tahu pounamu in the market place through stickers, swing tags and registered manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers.
Export of pounamu
When taking pounamu out of NZ, it is important to be aware that pounamu in excess of 5 kilograms in weight is prohibited from being exported. This is enforced at the border by the, New Zealand Customs Service. Crafted articles such as pendants and sculptures are allowed to be taken out of the country along with raw pounamu and stones under 5 kilograms. Those wishing to take pounamu out of the country above this limit must apply in writing to:
New Zealand Customs
PO Box 2218
Wellington
Further Information
Full copies of the Ngai Tahu Pounamu Resource Management Plan are available to purchase at a cost of $30 each. For further information or to purchase your copy of the plan, please contact: craig.pauling@ngaitahu.iwi.nz
For any other queries regarding Pounamu please contact: Jymal.Morgan@ngaitahu.iwi.nz