20 Aug 2026
Māori jewellery is an expression of identity, connection and story, taking many forms across Aotearoa New Zealand. Designs may draw upon te ao Māori, whakapapa, the natural world and traditional art forms, while contemporary Māori artists continue to develop their own distinctive expressions.
Contemporary Māori koru jewellery, carved from deep green New Zealand pounamu and set in gold, bringing an enduring Māori design into a modern jewellery setting.
Māori jewellery is not defined by a single material or style. Across generations, adornment has been created from pounamu, bone, stone, shell and wood. Today, Māori artists also work in silver, gold and other contemporary materials, creating jewellery that carries customary knowledge into new forms.
Pounamu holds a particularly significant place within this story. Treasured for its beauty, strength and cultural significance, it has been fashioned into tools, weapons and adornments for generations. Pieces can be worn, gifted and passed between people, gathering stories and connections throughout their lives.
At Mountain Jade, pounamu is where our own story sits within the wider world of Māori jewellery. Our artists work with New Zealand pounamu to create both customary and contemporary forms, bringing their own knowledge, ideas and carving styles to every piece. Throughout this guide, we explore the materials, designs, meanings and stories that shape Māori jewellery in Aotearoa today.
Māori jewellery is more than adornment. A piece can carry connections to people, place, whakapapa and the natural world, with meaning shaped by its design, material, maker and the story behind it.
There is no single definition of what Māori jewellery looks like. It encompasses customary forms passed through generations as well as contemporary work created by Māori artists today. Some pieces draw strongly on traditional forms and mātauranga Māori; others express those influences through distinctly modern designs.
Māori jewellery has never been restricted to one material. Materials have changed and expanded over time as artists have continued to develop their practice, from wood to bone. However, pounamu has a particularly important place within Māori culture and has been treasured for generations for its beauty, strength and cultural significance.
Found predominantly in Te Waipounamu, the South Island of New Zealand, pounamu was traditionally fashioned into tools, weapons and personal adornments. Pieces could be worn, gifted and handed down through generations, developing histories and connections to the people who carried them.
Today, artists continue to work with pounamu in both customary and contemporary forms. Learn more about pounamu and its significance.
Contemporary Māori jewellery can also now be set in precious metals such as silver and gold. Māori jewellers use these materials to create earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets and other forms of jewellery. Some works draw upon customary forms, patterns and concepts, while others are distinctly contemporary expressions of Māori identity and creativity.
The result is a jewellery tradition that continues to evolve rather than being confined to designs or materials from the past.
No. Māori jewellery is a living and continually evolving art form.
Contemporary Māori artists work across pounamu, bone, wood, silver, gold and other materials. Their work can draw upon mātauranga Māori and customary art forms while also reflecting contemporary identities, experiences and artistic ideas.
The same is true within pounamu carving. Artists may work with forms that have clear historical precedents while also developing entirely contemporary pieces.
Customary Māori surface designs and patterns can also provide inspiration for contemporary work. Rather than simply reproducing the past, artists can draw on traditional knowledge and artistic language to create something new.
Pounamu holds a special place in Māori jewellery because it brings together natural beauty, cultural meaning and personal connection.
For generations, pounamu has been shaped into taonga to be worn close to the body. A piece may be chosen for its design and meaning, gifted to mark an important relationship or moment, or simply because the wearer feels a connection to the stone. As it is worn, its story becomes intertwined with that of its owner.
At Mountain Jade, pounamu is our area of expertise and we have an award winning Māori Carving Team. We work with New Zealand stone and artists who transform it into both customary and contemporary forms. Increasingly, pounamu is also paired with gold and silver, bringing the natural character and story of the stone into modern fine jewellery. These settings allow pounamu to be worn in new ways - from everyday necklaces and earrings to distinctive statement pieces - while keeping the stone at the heart of the design.
Yes. Māori jewellery is worn by Māori and non-Māori throughout Aotearoa and around the world. What matters is understanding and respecting the story, artist and cultural context of the piece you choose.
For many people, Māori jewellery creates a lasting connection with Aotearoa. A piece might be chosen because of what its design expresses, a connection with New Zealand, the story of the artist who created it, or simply because something about the piece feels personal.
When choosing pounamu, take the time to discover who carved it and the story behind its design. That knowledge can transform jewellery from something you simply wear into something you develop a connection with over time. In some cases, the story may simply lie in the contemporary simplicity of the piece and the natural beauty and character of the stone itself.
Start with what draws you in. It might be the form of the piece, the colour and character of the stone, or simply the way the two come together.
Contemporary pounamu jewellery can take many forms. Some designs, such as the koru or twist, carry familiar stories of connection, growth and relationships. Others are defined by their simplicity - a teardrop, drop or organic form designed to showcase the stone itself.
The stone is the story. No two pieces of pounamu are the same. Colour, depth, translucency and natural markings give each its own character, made even more striking when paired with the warmth of gold or the clean simplicity of silver.
Choosing a piece doesn’t always need a deeper explanation. It can be about what catches your eye, what feels like you, or what you can imagine wearing for years to come.
For a gift, the same instinct applies - choose a form, stone or story that feels like it belongs to the person who will wear it.
