Westland Greenstone is proudly owned by Kāti Māhaki, one of the 18 Papatipu Rūnanga (tribal councils with recognised authority over their ancestral lands) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Based on Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast of the South Island), Kāti Māhaki has a deep and enduring connection to the whenua (land), awa (rivers) and taonga (treasures) of this region.

For Ngāi Tahu, pounamu (New Zealand jade/greenstone) is far more than a beautiful stone. It is a treasured taonga carrying cultural, historical and spiritual significance, connecting people, places and generations through whakapapa (genealogy and ancestral connections).

A Responsibility to Protect

As tangata whenua (the people with ancestral authority over the land), Ngāi Tahu has a responsibility to care for naturally occurring pounamu within its takiwā (tribal area).

This responsibility was formally recognised through the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997, which vested ownership of all naturally occurring pounamu within the Ngāi Tahu takiwā in Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

With that ownership comes kaitiakitanga (guardianship and stewardship) — the responsibility to care for, protect and preserve this taonga for present and future generations.

Kaitiakitanga is not simply about ownership. It is about ensuring pounamu is respected, sourced responsibly and continues to be valued for the cultural and natural taonga that it is.

Westland Greenstone & Kāti Māhaki

The acquisition of Westland Greenstone by Kāti Māhaki represents an important new chapter in the story of this long-established West Coast business.

It brings the business into the ownership of mana whenua with an enduring connection to Te Tai Poutini and its pounamu, while continuing more than six decades of Westland Greenstone craftsmanship and heritage.

For Kāti Māhaki, this is about more than operating a retail business. It is an opportunity to protect the integrity of authentic New Zealand pounamu, support skilled carvers and artisans, and share the stories and significance of this taonga with people from Aotearoa and around the world.

Our Commitment

We are committed to ensuring the pounamu offered through Westland Greenstone is genuine, responsibly sourced and treated with the respect it deserves.

Every piece of pounamu sold by Westland Greenstone is authentic New Zealand pounamu, with its provenance verified through the Ngāi Tahu authentication system.

By supporting skilled artisans, protecting the integrity of pounamu and maintaining high standards in everything we do, we honour both the legacy of Westland Greenstone and our responsibility as kaitiaki (guardians).

Looking to the Future

Our vision is for Westland Greenstone to continue to be a place where people can discover authentic New Zealand pounamu, understand the stories and significance behind it, and choose taonga that will be treasured for generations.

We want every visit, every conversation and every piece of pounamu to provide an opportunity to share the enduring connection between the people, whenua and pounamu of Te Tai Poutini.

As Westland Greenstone moves into its next chapter under Kāti Māhaki ownership, we carry forward the heritage of the business while building a future grounded in whakapapa, kaitiakitanga and connection to place.