The Rarest Pounamu

The Rarest Pounamu Ranked

While all pounamu is considered precious, some types are rarer than others. Below is a ranking of notable types of pounamu from the rarest to more commonly found varieties.

1. Kahurangi Pounamu – Very Rare

Kahurangi pounamu is one of the rarest and most prized types of pounamu in New Zealand. This variety is known for its blue-green or turquoise hues, making it distinct from typical greenstone. Its rare colour and translucent appearance make it highly sought after, and it is often used for high-quality jewellery and ceremonial carvings.

2. Black Pounamu (Tamao) – Rare

Black pounamu, also known as Tamao, is a rare and highly valued type. It ranges from deep green to black and is prized for its striking appearance. Black pounamu is used for ceremonial purposes and fine carvings, and its scarcity makes it one of the most prestigious forms of greenstone.

3. Inanga Pounamu (White Pounamu) – Rare

Inanga pounamu is a pale green or white form of nephrite jade. Its delicate translucency makes it highly prized for jewellery and fine carvings. Inanga is considered rare due to its light appearance and clarity, making pieces especially valuable and cherished.

4. Kawakawa Pounamu – Uncommon to Rare

Kawakawa pounamu is a deep green nephrite jade with speckled patterns or darker spots. While less rare than black or Inanga pounamu, it is still uncommon and highly valued for its distinctive appearance, making it a popular choice for carvings and jewellery.

5. Snowflake Pounamu – Rare

Snowflake pounamu features white or pale patches resembling snowflakes against a green background. These contrasting patterns make it visually striking and highly valued for special carvings and jewellery.

6. Kōkopu Pounamu – Rare

Kōkopu pounamu is named for its resemblance to the speckled markings of native freshwater trout. Its colours range from light to dark browns, creamy whites, olive greens, yellow, and golden tones. Recognized for its distinctive brown spots, Kōkopu has gained popularity for its unique appearance.

7. Totoweka Pounamu – Rare

Totoweka pounamu is usually similar to mid-green Kawakawa but has red spots or streaks. Found mainly in South Westland, it is highly cherished. Its name comes from "toto" meaning blood and "weka," a native bird, referring to the blood-like markings on the stone.

8. Flower Jade (Marsden Jade) – Rare

Flower Jade, or Marsden Jade, is valued for golden-yellow-orange patterns unique to Aotearoa. Over thousands of years, mineral infiltration has produced these colours. It is best known from the Marsden region near Hokitika.

9. Tangiwai Pounamu – Rare

Tangiwai pounamu is translucent, olive-green to bluish-green serpentine. Its name means "the tears that come from great sorrow," referring to a legend of a woman whose tears turned to stone. Found in areas like Milford Sound, it is valued for translucency and colour.

10. Pīpīwharauroa Pounamu – Rare

Pīpīwharauroa pounamu is found in Inanga, Tangiwai, and dark Kawakawa varieties. Named after the shining cuckoo, its green and white shimmering patterns resemble the bird's plumage. The stone exhibits a chatoyant effect, where light bands move as it is rotated.

11. Raukaraka Pounamu – Rare

Raukaraka pounamu is a rare form of Kawakawa pounamu, named after the leaf of the Karaka tree due to its orange colour from mineral oxidation.

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