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Trade Me Bans Raw Pounamu and Aotea Sales Following Advocacy from Poutini Ngāi Tahu

Nā te rōpū pāpāho AI o Tārake·I tāia i te 22 October 2026·I whakahoutia i te 22 October 2026

Online marketplace Trade Me has prohibited the sale of raw pounamu and aotea, a move celebrated by Poutini Ngāi Tahu as a major victory for the protection of Māori taonga from illegal extraction.

Ko te hiranga o tēnei kōrero

This decision reinforces the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997, which legally acknowledges Māori rangatiratanga over natural resources. It addresses the ongoing struggle against the black market trade of indigenous treasures and sets a precedent for digital platforms to respect customary ownership and kaitiakitanga.

Poutini Ngāi Tahu has welcomed a significant policy change from Trade Me to stop the sale of raw pounamu and aotea on its online marketplace. Reported on Thursday 22 October 2026, the decision marks a landmark shift in how digital platforms manage culturally significant natural resources in Aotearoa New Zealand. Francois Tumahai, a spokesperson for Poutini Ngāi Tahu Rūnanga, described the move as a positive development in the ongoing effort to protect these stones from unauthorised collection and commercial exploitation. The ban follows longstanding concerns regarding the illegal removal of raw pounamu from rivers and sites across Te Tai o Poutini (the West Coast) for online trade. Mr Tumahai noted that for mana whenua, the issue transcends commercial value, focusing instead on the protection of whakapapa and the exercise of kaitiakitanga. The ownership and management of pounamu are legally recognised under the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997, which vests ownership of natural-state stone within the Ngāi Tahu takiwā in Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Despite this legislation, illegal trading has remained a persistent challenge. Poutini Ngāi Tahu highlighted that unauthorised extraction can undermine tikanga and disrupt customary management practices. In addition to pounamu, the ban covers Aotea, a distinctive stone highly prized by Poutini Ngāi Tahu. Both resources are deeply connected to the identity and traditions of mana whenua. While the Trade Me decision is seen as a milestone for respecting iwi rights, Poutini Ngāi Tahu acknowledged that challenges remain with other social media marketplaces. The rūnanga hopes this development will encourage other platforms to introduce similar safeguards and increase public awareness regarding the authentic origins of these taonga.
Ngā kupu kei tēnei kōrero
pounamu
Greenstone or nephrite jade, a highly valued Māori treasure.
taonga
A treasured possession or resource.
mana whenua
Those with primary territorial rights and authority over a specific area.
whakapapa
Genealogy, lineage, or connections to the natural world.
kaitiakitanga
Guardianship and environmental stewardship.
Pūtake
Hands Off Our Taonga: Poutini Ngāi Tahu Welcomes Trade Me Ban on Raw Pounamu and Aotea — waateanews.com
I whakarāpopototia e te AI o Tārake i te 22 October 2026 · te tūnga arotake pono: Kua pono
Mō te arotake i te pono: Source is current (Oct 22, 2026) and provides specific names (Francois Tumahai) and legal context (Ngāi Tahu Pounamu Vesting Act 1997). The article reflects a positive outcome for Māori resource management and kaitiakitanga.
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