Source: Radio New Zealand
The man appeared at the Dunedin District Court and was released on bail. RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Police have charged a Dunedin man after seizing 820 kilograms of pounamu.
Officers found the stone, which was cut and ready for sale, during a search on Monday.
The 29-year-old man has appeared in court charged with obstruction.
Police say they are considering laying further charges in relation to the pounamu.
Ngāi Tahu says some of the stolen stone had been hacked and quarried from remote catchments and illegally sold to carvers around the country.
Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick said the local hapu Ngāti Māhaki were grateful for the swift police response to what had been an ongoing problem with theft of their taonga.
Ngāi Tahu raised the issue with police after it was brought to their attention on line and via the community, he said.
“This complaint was made due to the person brazenly parading our stolen pounamu as if they have a right to help themselves to it – they don’t, and we are working closely with the Police to prevent further theft of our taonga,” he said in a statement.
All pounamu was easily identifiable and could be traced back to particular catchments, Madgwick said.
Public collecting is only allowed on West Coast beaches, and only small pieces that can be carried in one hand.
Rivers are able to be fossicked by Ngāi Tahu whānau members, but only with a collection permit granted by the kaitiaki (guardian) rūnanga, in this case Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, being the kaitiaki of South Westland.
“Anyone who is unsure of the rules around pounamu gathering, or has pounamu in their possession and is unclear about ownership, whether they’re the general public or have Ngāi Tahu whakapapa, is urged to reach out to the local Rūnanga or Ngāi Tahu Pounamu to understand what is permissible,” Madgwick said.
The man appeared at the Dunedin District Court and was released on bail.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
