Kura Pounamu: Our Treasured Stone
An exhibition created by Te Papa working closely with Ngāi Tahu, featuring more than 200 pounamu taonga.
This exhibition tells the story of this most precious of stones, its significance for Māori, and its enduring value from ancient times until today.
The exhibition includes some very rare cultural taonga, including some 95 hei tiki, 20 mere, and four large pounamu touchstones, the largest of which, “Te Hurika”, weighs in at 170kg.
Detail of pounamu kōhatu, tahutahi variety. Photograph courtesy of Te Rūnanga O Makaawhio
The earliest pounamu pieces in the exhibition may be the toki, tools used for working wood. Some are thought to originate from early settlement times some 700-800 years ago, and replicate East Polynesian adze shapes.
Developed and presented by Te Papa and Ngāi Tahu.
The exhibition known in New Zealand as Kura Pounamu, Treasured stone of Aotearoa New Zealand was shown at Te Papa from September 2009 to July 2011. It was then reworked for touring internationally and was shown at five venues in China from November 2012 to June 2014 and in Paris under the title La pierre sacrée des Māori (Sacred stone of the Māori) in 2017.
Tour schedule and availability
Kura Pounamu: Our Treasured Stone is available as a touring exhibition now.
| Hokitika Museum, Hokitika | 5 December 2024 – 27 April 2025 |
| Marlborough Art Gallery, Blenheim | December 2023 – February 2024 |
| Pātaka, Porirua | 18 March – 11 June 2023 |
| Otago Museum, Ōtepoti Dunedin | 26 March – 28 August 2022 |
| Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao, Whakatū Nelson | 24 August – 24 November 2019 |
| Canterbury Museum, Ōtautahi Christchurch | 15 December 2018 – 3 June 2019 |
| Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Paris | 22 May – 1 October 2017 |
Planning to visit? Check the venue website for confirmed dates.
Hosting enquiries
Jake Yocum, Touring Exhibition Manager
Phone: +64 (0)4 381 7317
Email: touringexhibitions@tepapa.govt.nz
