A Dunedin man has been arrested after almost a tonne of allegedly stolen pounamu was uncovered.
Police executed a search warrant in Dunedin on Monday and say they found multiple samples of stolen pounamu that had been cut and were for sale.
In total, 820kg of pounamu was seized.
A 29-year-old man was arrested for obstruction and has appeared in the Dunedin District Court.
He has been released on bail while charges regarding the pounamu are considered.
Pounamu is the property of Ngāi Tahu by virtue of the Pounamu (Ngāi Tahu) Vesting Act 1997.
Public fossicking for pounamu is only allowed on West Coast beaches and the size of pounamu allowed to be taken is limited to something you can carry in one hand.
Rivers are able to be fossicked by Ngāi Tahu whānau members, but only with a collection permit granted by the kaitiaki (guardian) rūnanga, in this case Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, being the kaitiaki of South Westland.
Detective Sergeant Jesse Thomson, of Dunedin, said police took pride in working alongside West Coast hapū.
The theft of pounamu was treated with the same value and mindset as other stolen property.
Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick said the local hapū Ngāti Māhaki was grateful for the swift police response to the ongoing problem of theft of their taonga.
“Ngāi Tahu has had the sale and supply of pounamu, online and within the community, brought to their attention. A complaint to police in this case resulted in the current inquiry being conducted in Dunedin,” Madgwick said.
“This complaint was made due to the person brazenly parading our stolen pounamu as if they have a right to help themselves to it – they don’t, and we are working closely with the police to prevent further theft of our taonga.”
Madgwick says all pounamu is easily identifiable, like DNA, and can be traced back to particular catchments.
Some of the stolen stone has been hacked and quarried from some of these remote catchments and illegally sold to carvers.
Carvers who now find themselves in possession of stolen pounamu should first question the provenance of the stone.
The rule is simple - if it is not authenticated by Ngāi Tahu Pounamu, it may be stolen.
Pounamu is only found in parts of Te Wai Pounamu (South Island), and the vast majority is on Te Tai Poutini, the West Coast, largely in the Arahura and Haast districts.
“Anyone who is unsure of the rules around pounamu gathering, or has pounamu in their possession and is unclear about ownership, whether they’re the general public or have Ngāi Tahu whakapapa, is urged to reach out to the local rūnanga or Ngāi Tahu Pounamu to understand what is permissible.”
If members of the public witness or suspect any illegal procurement of pounamu, call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.