NEW ZEALAND AND PACIFIC
Unique, Handcrafted Jewellery & Art
Genuine Hand-Carved Bone, Shell, Pounamu & Wood Wearable Art
DISCOVER THE TRADITION, MAGIC & BEAUTY OF
New Zealand MAORi Carving
Māori carving carries significant meaning, with the intricate details of each piece representing people, iwi (tribes), places, values, and the stories of the past. We stock the finest quality, unique, hand carved pieces of jewellery, art and collectibles from the finest New Zealand artisans.
The Gift Centre is Queenstown's oldest store. We opened our doors in 1976 and have been family-owned and operated for 50 years. During this time we have cultivated relationships with NZ's best carvers and makers of fine jewellery.
WHAT MATERIAL ARE YOU AFTER?
We sell rare jade, greenstone, pounamu, paua shell, bone and wooden carvings, gifts, collectibles, art and jewellery carved by New Zealand's best artists using the finest materials.
ARE JADE AND GREENSTONE THE SAME THING?
Pounamu is a Māori word that refers to stones only found in New Zealand which are mainly of the nephrite variety, but also include some bowenite and serpentine. Jade is nephrite and can be found in other parts of the world too. Greenstone is only found in New Zealand.
GIFTING
It is believed that a carving which is worn with respect or given and received with love, takes on part of the spirit of those who wear or handle it. In this way it becomes a spiritual link between people spanning time and distance.
shapes & symbolism
Each carving tells a story and records a piece of history. Carvings are rich in symbolism and use common patterns. Traditional patterns used in carving were often inspired by the natural environment, including spider webs (pūngāwerewere), fish scales (unaunahi) and the unfurling fronds of the fern (koru), amongst many others.
Can I buy MY own greenstone?
Customers often talk about how specific stones speak to them, so we do believe that to an extent the stone can actually choose you! But there is no reason why you shouldn’t purchase these special stones as a gift for yourself, especially if you feel a particular connection to a piece of greenstone or a design. Whether gifted to you by yourself or another, your pounamu taonga (jade treasure) will be imbued with your wairua (spirit) and become a treasure to pass down for generations to come.
In short, you are not disrespecting any ancient cultural practises or traditions by gifting a piece to yourself.
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Visit Us
Our shop is located at 19 Beach Street, Queenstown, NZ. We are open 7 days a week, 9AM to 9PM.
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Store support
Call us between 9AM and 9PM NZ standard time +64-3-442-8528, or email us at jadepaua@gmail.com
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Wordwide shipping
We ship anywhere, rates available at checkout.
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Returns
Returns notified within 2 weeks receive a full refund upon return of item.
