The dark side of greenstone: theft, black market and drug trading
New Zealand's pounamu is increasingly being stolen and sold on the black market, sometimes exchanged for methamphetamine.
New Zealand's treasured greenstone is becoming the target of theft and black market trade. The stolen pounamu is being traded on illicit markets, in some cases being exchanged for drugs including methamphetamine. The issue highlights the vulnerability of culturally significant Māori taonga to criminal activity.
Covered byStuffNot covered byRNZNZ Herald1NewsNewstalk ZBOtago Daily TimesNewsroomThe SpinoffBusinessDeskinterest.co.nz
Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
Stuff
The dark side of greenstone: theft, the black market and using it to buy meth
Your pounamu could be stolen: Inside the black market for New Zealand’s treasured stone