The Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997 is a pivotal piece of legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand that returned ownership of all naturally occurring pounamu (greenstone) within the Ngāi Tahu tribal area (takiwā) to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the iwi’s legal representative.

Key Points of the Act are as follows

Ownership Transfer

The Act vested ownership of pounamu in its natural state whether in rivers, on beaches, or underground back to Ngāi Tahu as part of the iwi’s Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown.

Cultural Redress

Recognized pounamu as a ‘taonga’ (treasure) of immense spiritual and cultural significance to Ngāi Tahu, affirming that it was never intended to be sold during historical land transactions.

Legal Protection

Since the Act’s passage, it has been unlawful to extract or remove pounamu from Ngāi Tahu territory without the iwi’s consent. This includes incidental discoveries, such as during gold mining operations.

Management Framework

Ngāi Tahu developed a Pounamu Management Plan(2002) to guide sustainable use, protection, and cultural stewardship of the resource.

This Act is a landmark in the recognition of Māori rights and the restoration of traditional guardianship over culturally significant resources.