Ngai Tahu, the iwi that owns all New Zealand greenstone, is launching a pilot project with a "Ngai Tahu pounamu" trademark with some dealers. It may go national next year.
The move comes against the background of claims that some souvenir shop operators and agents are passing off imported jade as
New Zealand pounamu, with huge mark-ups.
It is also claimed some retailers are blatantly lying about where the stone is from, using deceptive practices and hiding behind tags of "genuine greenstone".
One Christchurch dealer said most of what was sold was imported.
Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu pounamu management spokesman Bill Doland is warning people to be careful if they want true New Zealand jade.
"There are a few unscrupulous operators out there. A lot of it is imported. You would find it hard to go out and find a piece of pounamu now," he said.
It was difficult to differentiate between pounamu and good quality British Columbian pieces so it was important retailers were upfront about what they stocked.
Mr Doland said there were some obvious pointers for the consumer wishing to buy pounamu. "Carvings of dolphins and bears with fish in their mouths" were clearly imported.
But because of huge mark-ups in the value of the cheaper imported jade, the price tags of traditional koru, fish hooks and tiki were often similar.
"I've seen Asian people come in with suitcases of the stuff. It's rough as, it's got bumps on it. They sell them at $7 to retailers, and retailers sell them at $100 or more."
But in most cases, employees were either not aware of the stone's origins or only disclosed it if asked specifically by the consumer.
"We find most tourists don't ask," said one Christchurch retailer, who said about "99 per cent" of what they sold was imported jade.
"I guess they probably assume it is from New Zealand."
But while carvers and those involved in the management of pounamu say the practice is not new, they fear the situation is getting out of control.
- NZPA
