Pounamu is taonga, prized for its beauty, strength and deep ties to people and place. Its carved shape can add another story. Choose the meaning you want to carry, and this finder will offer a warm starting point — from koru for a new chapter to toki for strength with purpose. Meanings can vary between iwi, carvers, whānau and wearers, so your own bond still matters. 🌿
Pounamu design finder
What story do you want to carry?
Tap the feeling that fits. Your shape and a current Rivendell example will appear below.
A new beginningGrowth · fresh starts · unfolding
Strength with purposeCourage · skill · resolve
An enduring bondConnection · friendship · togetherness
Guided by the seaOcean · courage · safe passage
A guardian close byProtection · balance · guidance
Lineage carried forwardAncestry · inheritance · memory
Balance through changeEmotion · grounding · movement
Love made visibleAffection · unity · heartfelt connection
Your match will appear here ✨
Your shape is
Koru
The koru follows an unfurling fern shoot. A Ngāi Tahu trace record links this form with new life, growth and renewal — a gentle match for a fresh chapter.
Meet a greenstone koru pendantYour shape is
Toki
The toki recalls the working adze: useful, strong and made with skill. Today it is often chosen for courage, leadership and steady resolve.
Meet a greenstone toki pendantYour shape is
Pikorua
Its twisting paths stay linked as they move. Pounamu carvers often link pikorua with friendship, love and bonds that hold across distance.
Meet a greenstone pikorua pendantYour shape is
Hei matau
The fish-hook form carries stories of fishing, Māui, Tangaroa and the sea. Carver lore also links it with courage, protection and safe travel.
Meet a greenstone hei matau pendantYour shape is
Manaia
In modern carving lore, manaia is a guardian and messenger across sky, earth and sea. Choose it when protection and balance feel closest to your story.
Meet a greenstone manaia pendantYour shape is
Hei tiki
Hei tiki are human-form pendants often carried as heirlooms linked with lineage. Their exact meaning is not settled. Te Papa records several readings, not one fixed answer.
Meet a greenstone hei tiki pendantYour shape is
Roimata
The long teardrop form is commonly linked with emotion, connection to the land and balance through change. It suits a story that is still moving.
Meet a greenstone roimata pendantYour shape is
Manawa
The heart form makes its message clear. Modern pounamu design lore links manawa with love, unity and a bond you want to keep close.
Meet a greenstone manawa pendant🔮 Let each meaning be a starting point
Pounamu carries meaning before a carver adds a motif. The stone has long associations with mana, whakapapa, adornment, tools and peace-making. Shape adds another layer, but it does not erase the story of the stone, the carver or the person who wears it.
Meanings can differ between iwi, carvers and whānau, so treat each reading here as a starting point, not a rule. Your reason for choosing a piece matters too. For the fuller story behind all eight forms, open our visual guide to pounamu shapes and meanings.
Before you choose a piece
Look beyond colour and shape. Ask where the stone came from and who carved it. Authentic Ngāi Tahu Pounamu can carry a mark and unique trace code. It can show the stone's source and carver. Our guide to greenstone meaning and culture explains why the source matters.
Then notice the practical details: cord length, pendant size, weight and how the shape sits against the body. If the piece will be worn often, read our pounamu wearing and care guide before you decide.
FAQs
What is pounamu?
Pounamu is the Māori name for New Zealand greenstone. It is a treasured taonga valued for beauty, strength and deep meaning. “Greenstone” and “New Zealand jade” are common English names, but pounamu best holds the link to culture.
Do pounamu shapes have one fixed meaning?
No. Some readings are widely shared, but meanings differ between iwi, carvers, whānau and wearers. Hei tiki is a clear example. Te Papa records several possible meanings and says the exact answer is still open.
Can I buy pounamu for myself?
Yes. Māori carvers told RNZ that the gifting-only rule is a myth. A gift can carry a beautiful shared story, but you can also choose a piece for yourself.
How can I check whether pounamu is authentic?
Ask about its source. Authentic Ngāi Tahu Pounamu can have a trace mark and code showing where the stone came from and who carved it. You can also ask the seller what the piece is made from.
Follow the shape that keeps calling you
If two designs feel right, that is not a failed result. Read both stories, hold the practical details beside them, then choose the one you will want to wear or give. Browse the current Rivendell pounamu collection, or visit us at Shop 62, Westfield Manukau, to see the colour and carving in person. ✨