The next intriguing part of our journey took us to the picturesque west coast of the North Island, near the cool little town of Hokitika.
Hokitika is a captivating town where a beach stroll reveals stunning views of snow-capped peaks, an abundance of cafes, a vibrant arts scene, and friendly local characters eager to share stories.
Can you guess what we were hoping to find there? It was the renowned nephrite jade of New Zealand, known as pounamu to the Māori people. Pounamu is considered sacred and has protections in New Zealand - in order to legally gather the precious stone, you must be a direct descendant of the local “Iwi” or tribe.