A-Dub 🥝"Pounamu [NZ nephrite jade] is a taonga. For many hapū of Ngāi Tahu, it is also a tupuna [ancestor]. Recently, there has been a spate of large-scale pounamu thefts that have shone a spotlight on the pounamu black market in Aotearoa, with a first-of-its-kind prosecution being brought against a duo for having 18 kilograms of the precious stone in their possession when trying to leave the country in 2024.
Now, Ngāi Tahu and the police are looking to crack down on the illegal export of pounamu. But how is the black market operating and why is it so enticing for those participating in it?"
"According to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae chair Francois Tumahai, Ngāi Tahu suspects the mining industry is central to the black market. “The only place that it’s coming from in any quantity to ship overseas is through the alluvial gold mining industry. It’s that simple,” he told 1News."
https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/03-05-2026/why-the-black-market-for-pounamu-is-booming
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Matt Marcha
A-Dub 🥝
Bob LeFridge 