What to Do When Your Pounamu Breaks: Cultural Significance and Modern Practices

What to Do When Your Pounamu Breaks: Cultural Significance and Modern Practices

Pounamu (greenstone) is more than just a beautiful taonga (treasure). It carries deep spiritual meaning, often passed down through generations or gifted in moments of love, remembrance, and respect. But what happens when this sacred stone breaks?

For many, the moment a pounamu cracks or shatters brings a mix of emotions sadness, confusion, and sometimes guilt. In this blog, we’ll explore the cultural significance of a broken pounamu, the tikanga (customs) around what to do next, and some thoughtful modern approaches to honouring your taonga.

Why Do Pounamu Break?

It might happen suddenly, a drop on a hard floor, or a small crack that appears after years of wear. Sometimes, the reason is purely physical. But in te ao Māori (the Māori world), a broken pounamu can also carry wairua (spiritual) meaning.

Traditional Beliefs

Many believe that when pounamu breaks, it’s a sign. It may be seen as:

• A spiritual message or warning

• An indication that the stone’s purpose has been fulfilled

• A symbol of protection, that it took on harm meant for the wearer

This understanding varies between iwi (tribes) and whānau (families), and not everyone interprets it the same way. For some, the breaking of a pounamu is a deeply spiritual moment that deserves reflection.

Cultural Practices: What To Do

Traditionally, pounamu is treated with great respect, even after it breaks. Here are some tikanga that may guide you:

Return It to the River or Earth
In many cases, especially when the stone is no longer wearable or is considered to have completed its role, the taonga is returned to nature, often to the river it came from or a place that holds special significance.
This is usually done with a karakia (prayer or blessing), acknowledging the mauri (life force) of the stone and releasing it back to Papatūānuku (Earth).

Burying the Taonga
Some choose to bury their pounamu in a meaningful place, like a family garden or nearby maunga (mountain), as a way of letting it rest and honouring its journey.

Keep It Safely Stored
If you’re not ready to part with it, storing the broken piece in a special place, like a woven pouch, carved box, or taonga drawer, is also acceptable. It allows you to continue honouring the piece while keeping it close.

Modern Approaches: Blending Tikanga with Practicality

Today, many people want to honour tradition while also finding a path that feels right for them. These modern approaches may resonate with you:

Repair or Recarve the Piece
Some broken pounamu can be reshaped into a smaller taonga, giving it a new life. This can be especially meaningful if the piece was gifted or has a strong emotional connection.
A skilled carver can often work with the broken shape and create something beautiful that still carries the original wairua.

Note: It’s always respectful to check with a carver who understands tikanga. Some may decline to reshape a taonga depending on its story or origin.

Repurpose into Another Taonga
A broken piece could become a toki, disc, or even part of a new commission for another family member. This can be a way to continue the taonga’s journey and legacy rather than ending it.

Ritual and Reflection
Whatever you decide, consider taking a quiet moment with your taonga. Offering a karakia or simply reflecting on what the piece meant to you can be grounding. It’s a way to acknowledge its journey and your connection to it.

Your Taonga, Your Journey

Every pounamu carries its own story, and how you respond when it breaks is deeply personal. Some will follow traditional tikanga strictly, while others will blend that with their own lived experiences. There’s no one right answer, what matters most is the care, respect, and intention you bring to that choice.

If you’re unsure, kōrero with a kaumātua (elder), a local carver, or someone you trust. Reaching out for guidance is a sign of honouring your taonga, too.

Final Thoughts

Pounamu connects those to the land, to their ancestors, and to one another. When it breaks, it may be the closing of one chapter and the opening of another.

If you’d like help repurposing a broken piece or would like to commission a new taonga in its honour, I’d be happy to kōrero with you. You’re welcome to reach out anytime.