How to Cut Pounamu (New Zealand Greenstone)

Pounamu, or New Zealand greenstone, is a type of nephrite jade treasured for its strength, beauty, and cultural significance. Cutting pounamu is a careful process that combines the right tools, patience, and respect for the stone.

As a carver, I’m often asked: “How do you cut pounamu?” The answer depends on the size and type of stone, but the basic process is outlined below.

⚠️ Important: Pounamu is a taonga (treasure) under tikanga Māori. Cutting and carving it should always be done with respect, not just as a material to work with.

Step 1: Choosing Your Stone

Every piece of pounamu is unique. Before cutting, consider:

• Variety, kawakawa, inanga, kokopu and other types each behave differently.
• Grain and fractures, cracks and inclusions can affect where you cut.
• Shape and thickness, helps decide whether it is best suited for pendants, slabs, or sculptural pieces.

Step 2: Tools for Cutting Pounamu

Because pounamu is one of the toughest stones in the world, normal saws will not work. You need diamond blades and water-cooled equipment.

• Trim Saw, perfect for smaller rocks, trimming slabs, and shaping rough outlines of pendants. These saws usually use a thin diamond blade for precision work.
• Slab Saw or Large Saw, designed for bigger chunks of pounamu. This saw cuts larger stones down into workable slabs that can later be refined on smaller tools.
• Water-Cooled System, essential for both small and large saws. Water reduces friction and prevents overheating, while also helping control dust.

Step 3: Cutting Techniques

When it comes to actually cutting pounamu, the key is patience.

1. Mark your cuts, use a wax pencil or marker to plan cuts and reduce waste.
2. Work with the grain, like wood, jade has a natural grain. Cutting with it helps prevent cracks.
3. Use plenty of water, always keep a steady flow of water over the blade to cool it and minimise dust.
4. Take it slow, let the blade do the work. Forcing the stone can cause chips or blade damage.
5. Trim carefully, use the trim saw to refine slabs into rough shapes before grinding.

 

Step 4: Safety First

Pounamu dust can be harmful if inhaled, and the cutting process involves high-speed blades. Safety is just as important as technique.

• Always wear safety goggles, to protect your eyes from chips.
• Wear a dust mask or respirator, even with water, fine dust can still become airborne.
• Gloves and ear protection, optional, but many carvers prefer them for comfort and safety.
• Stable work area, make sure your saw is set up securely and the water system is flowing properly before you start cutting.

Step 5: Shaping and Finishing

Once slabs are cut, shaping is usually done with grinders, diamond wheels, and sanding tools. From there, polishing wheels bring out the natural lustre and depth of the stone.

Some carvers prefer a high polish that makes the stone glow, while others choose a matte or satin finish for a more natural look.

 

Tikanga and Respect

Pounamu is more than just a stone. In te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), it is a taonga with its own whakapapa (genealogy). Traditionally, it was gifted rather than bought for oneself, and carries spiritual significance.

Approaching pounamu carving is not only about skill, it is also about respect, patience, and intention.

Final Thoughts

So, how do you cut pounamu? With diamond saws, water, protective gear, and a lot of patience. Every cut should be thoughtful, working with the grain of the stone and respecting the treasure that lies within.

If you’ve enjoyed this kōrero and would like to support my carving and writing, you can do so here: buymeacoffee.com/ojade 💚

 

If you would like to see what finished pounamu taonga look like, take a look at my hand-carved collection here.