Hokitika

Hokitika, on the rugged West Coast of the South Island, is where you'll find another Jade Factory location. The West Coast is the source of all New Zealand jade or Pounamu. It is found as alluvial boulders in rivers from Greymouth to Haast Pass and insitu seams and veins high in the mountains of South Westland. The rivers yield a stunning variety of Pounamu: from the range of greens found in kahurangi stone, the pale and translucent inanaga, red speckled totoweka, and the brown speckled kokopu. The carvers at the Jade Factory in Hokitika work exclusively with Pounamu. The carvers and other staff in Hokitika are particularly knowledgeable as many can be said to represent Kaitiaki (the local people who are deemed by Maoridom to be guardians of the stone). This is a particularly significant role given the fact that Pounamu is a non-renewable, limited and therefore precious resource. The Government of New Zealand has declared Pounamu to be a resource managed and distributed exclusively by Maori. Ph: +64 3 755 8007 Address: 41 Weld Street