The Rarest Pounamu
The Rarest Pounamu – Ranked
While all pounamu is considered precious, some types are much rarer than others. Below is a ranking of the most notable types of pounamu, from the rarest to the more commonly found varieties.
1. Kahurangi Pounamu – Very Rare
Kahurangi pounamu is one of the rarest and most prized types of pounamu found in New Zealand. This variety is known for its stunning blue-green or turquoise hues, making it stand out from the more typical greenstone varieties. Its rare color and translucent appearance make Kahurangi highly sought after, and it’s considered a luxury form of pounamu. Kahurangi is used for high-end jewelry and ceremonial carvings and is one of the most valuable types of pounamu available.
2. Black Pounamu (Tamao) – Rare
Black pounamu, also known as Tamao, is another extremely rare and valuable type of pounamu. This variety has a deep, dark green to black color and is highly prized for its striking appearance and rarity. Black pounamu is often used for ceremonial purposes, as well as for high-quality carvings and jewelry. Due to its scarcity, black pounamu is considered one of the most prestigious types of greenstone.
3. Inanga Pounamu (White Pounamu) – Rare
Inanga pounamu is a rare and beautiful form of nephrite pounamu that is typically pale green or even white in color. Its delicate, translucent quality makes it highly sought after, and it is often used for jewelry and fine carvings. Inanga is considered rare due to its light and soft appearance, and finding pieces with the desired clarity and color makes it more valuable. Its rarity and elegance make it one of the most cherished forms of pounamu.
4. Kawakawa Pounamu – Uncommon to Rare
Kawakawa pounamu is a deep green variety of nephrite pounamu that features distinctive speckled patterns or darker spots. While it is not as rare as black pounamu or Inanga, it is still relatively uncommon and is highly valued for its unique appearance. The dark markings in Kawakawa pounamu make it a popular choice for carvings and jewelry, and its rarity adds to its appeal. This form of pounamu is considered a prized material for creating artistic and symbolic pieces.
5. Snowflake Pounamu – Rare
Snowflake pounamu is a unique and rare variety of pounamu that features distinctive white or pale patches, giving it a snowflake-like appearance. These light-colored spots contrast beautifully with the darker green of the stone, making it one of the most aesthetically striking types of pounamu. Snowflake pounamu is highly valued for its rare pattern and beauty, often used in special carvings and jewelry.
6. Kōkopu Pounamu – Rare
Kōkopu pounamu is a distinctive variety named for its resemblance to the speckled markings of New Zealand's native freshwater trout. Its colors range from light to dark browns, creamy whites, olive greens, to yellow and even golden. Recognizable by its distinctive brown spots, Kōkopu was once discarded in the early jade industry but has gained popularity in modern times for its unique characteristics.
7. Totoweka Pounamu – Rare
Totoweka pounamu is a rare type of greenstone, usually similar to the mid-green Kawakawa variety but distinguished by red spots or streaks. Found mainly in the South Westland area, Totoweka is highly cherished by collectors. The name comes from "toto" (blood) and "weka" (native bush hen), referring to the blood-like red markings on the stone.
8. Flower Jade (Marsden Jade) – Rare
Flower Jade, also known as Marsden Jade, is a valuable and highly sought-after type of pounamu prized for its beautiful and distinctive golden-yellow-orange patterns unique to Aotearoa. Over thousands of years, Flower Jade undergoes a unique weathering process where the stone develops beautiful colors due to mineral infiltration. It is best known from the Marsden region near Hokitika.
9. Tangiwai Pounamu – Rare
Tangiwai pounamu is a translucent, olive-green to bluish-green type of serpentine, recognized by Māori as part of the pounamu family. The name means "the tears that come from great sorrow," referring to a Māori legend of a lamenting woman whose tears turned to stone. Tangiwai is found in areas like Milford Sound and is valued for its translucency and unique color.
10. Pīpīwharauroa Pounamu – Rare
Pīpīwharauroa pounamu is a rare and unique type of stone usually found in the 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 the stone is rotated, adding to its allure.
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 color resulting from mineral oxidation.