Unauthorised greenstone mining

Unauthorised greenstone mining

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wood rests his hand on pounamu seized by Wanaka police during an investigation. Three truckloads of illegally mined stone were confiscated. It was believed to have a market value of several million dollars. As a result of the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997, this tribe owns all pounamu in its natural state in the South Island.