Saxtons make offer to iwi over stolen pounamu

A Haast father and son have offered to pay $240,000 compensation to the Maori owners of the greenstone (pounamu) they took from South Westland's Cascade Plateau over six years.

Ngai Tahu and the South Westland runanga will also get back almost $200,000 worth of greenstone that was found by police on properties associated with 62-year-old David Anthony Saxton and his 28-year-old son, Morgan David Saxton.

The pair were found guilty in October of one charge of stealing the greenstone by Judge Gary MacAskill in Christchurch District Court. Two other charges were dismissed.

Judge MacAskill today adjourned the Saxtons' sentencing until later this afternoon so Ngai Tahu could consider the offer.

- NZPA