You can find them almost anywhere: in gift shops, pop-up stalls, and even by the cafe at tourist attractions alongside sheep magnets and honey soap: glossy greenstone shining on the jewellery stand like the lights of a Christmas tree. At a glance, the pendants look perfect… almost too perfect. You pick up a koru necklace and raise an eyebrow. $25. Seems very cheap. But they’re calling it ‘greenstone’ so it must be legit, right? Unfortunately, you might be about to buy a fake. Read on to learn how you can better identify REAL pounamu vs fake greenstone, and how to handle your taonga (treasure) correctly.

Real vs fake greenstone: Identifying authentic pounamu

There are several indicators that can help you identify fake pounamu. Imported greenstone tends to be cheaper, is sold without an authentication number, may appear mass produced, and is not explicitly labelled as having a New Zealand origin. The context in which the jewellery is being sold is also important.

The fake greenstone scam

Legally, carvers who make a business from commercially selling pounamu need to be certified by Ngāi Tahu, the legal kaitiaki (guardians) of this resource. It can take considerable time for carvers to learn the trade, source the stones, fashion the pendants, and organise their sale and distribution. This dedication to quality is reflected in the price of authentic pounamu.

The problem is that vendors wanting to make a quick buck know that jade imported from overseas, is a cheap – and realistic – alternative. A quick glance at Alibaba and you’ll see ‘greenstone’ pendants going for ~$8USD each. Imagine marking this up to $140 and passing it off as ‘NZ greenstone’ to tourists! For added confusion, jade can be legally marketed as ‘greenstone’ in NZ due to (misleading) language technicalities.

Help! What’s the difference between Pounamu, Greenstone and Jade?

• Pounamu: the traditional Māori name, and refers solely to authentic, NZ-sourced greenstone.
• Greenstone: a casual term that is used for both authentic pounamu other green, stone pendants – whether they are NZ stone or imported.  
• Jade can be sold as ‘greenstone’ in NZ shops without breaking advertising laws, but it cannot be labelled as ‘New Zealand greenstone’ or ‘New Zealand Jade’ which implies it was sourced from NZ.  
• NZ pounamu comes in many varieties like inanga, kahurangi, kokopu, flower jade, and several others.

Is it a fake? Tips for identifying authenticity

Authentic pounamu pendants sold commercially should have a ‘mark of authenticity’ and ‘traceability code’ that you can enter on the Ngāi Tahu Pounamu website here, which shows you the whakapapa of the stone and carver. But these indicators might not apply if you’re sourcing a pounamu pendant from a person who carves as a hobby, or you’ve been gifted a pendant by family or friends.

So what if there’s no label? When you’re shopping in-store, look at the price. While there are no strict ‘rules’ for pricing, jade tends to be cheaper (<$60 for a pendant). Keep in mind that price of real pounamu will also be influenced by the, a) rarity of the stone variety, b) complexity of the design, and c) skill of the carver. If you’re browsing a jewellery stand and notice that every single pendant design, from the simple roimata to the complex manaia, are sold at equal prices… take it as a sign to dig deeper.

Also, franchised gift shops aren’t necessarily more trustworthy. Big chain stores have been guilty of importing jade, so shopping bigger is not always better. Besides, it’s nice to directly support small-scale local carvers.

Can you identify real vs fake greenstone by eye?

Unfortunately, it can be extremely difficult to spot the difference between New Zealand pounamu and imported jade by eye. Jadeite tends to be ‘softer’ than nephrite pounamu, but colour-wise both are pretty variable.

Do you own a greenstone pendant and have suspicions about its authenticity? Take it to an experienced carver who may be able to identify it. If you’re buying a pendant, chat with seller, or even better- the carver, for more information about its origin.

Respecting your Pounamu

• Pounamu is considered sacred and should be purchased as a gift for somebody else. Traditionally, it was passed down from a person of higher status or age to somebody of lower status, although today it is common to exchange pounamu between friends, partners, and from mentors to students.
• Want to find out what the different pounamu shapes symbolise? Check out this neat page by Te Wahi Pounamu.
• Moko Pounamu has a helpful guide on blessing your pounamu in accordance with Māori custom.
• Did you know that raw pounamu sold on online marketplaces may actually be illegally sourced? Even if it’s not strictly criminal, it’s considered poor form to sell raw pounamu online as these tourists discovered…

Conclusion

Pounamu is considered a sacred resource in Aotearoa New Zealand, and as a result there are a certain protocols around its management and sale. As a treasured and meaningful gift, you need to be careful that you’re buying the real deal and not being duped by fake greenstone. Some of the important indicators to look out for include the mark of authenticity, traceability code, and price. It’s best if you can talk to the carver directly, or at least see evidence that the stone has an NZ origin. It’s difficult to identify real vs fake greenstone by eye, but once again, a friendly carver might be able to help you out.

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