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Pounamu: the Jade of New Zealand by Russell Beck and Maika Mason with photographs by Andris Apse

Through the eyes of Pounamu specialists Russell Beck and Maika Mason, readers explore Pounamu’s powerful connection with the natural environment, its Maori myths and history, geology and technical characteristics. They will find out where greenstone can be found, the methods of working it, and the cultural issues regarding the ownership and management of New Zealand jade as a resource. It should be noted that the authors feel that Greenstone is not a satisfactory name, and because it is not used outside New Zealand in the same context they feel that Pounamu or NZ Jade are more appropriate terms.

The role of this book is to provide readers with knowledge of the important historical role that jade has played in New Zealand and the special relationship between the stone, the people and the landscape of New Zealand.

While the book is extremely informative and a great learning tool, what particularly impressed me were the large photographs by Andris Apse, one of New Zealand’s leading landscape photographers. They turn this book from just a learning experience to a book that would grace any coffee table or the lectern in any library. The photos not only show the beauty of Pounamu in its different forms, but show how beautiful and picturesque the part of the country where it is found is.

RRP $92.00
Published and distributed by Penguin Group

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