New Zealand jade carving is unique in its designs and forms. We owe this to the Maori who have refined techniques of working with the stone over a long period of time. We can trace their use of Pounamu back to the twelfth century. Because of its extreme hardness, Pounamu was used by the Maori for weapons and tools. It was also prized by the Maori for ornaments - pendants and earrings.

Many of the designs you see today at the Jade Factory are contemporary interpretations of traditional designs, which have been carved for centuries such as the hei matua (fish hook), the tiki (representing man) and the manaia (serpent form).
It can be said that all jade carving has an organic dimension. New Zealand carving is dynamic and diverse - a fact evidenced by the increasing numbers of new and talented sculptors and carvers, each creating their own unique designs from their own particular sources of inspiration, whether that be Maori, Pacific, Asian or Celtic.
The Jade Factory employs some of the most talented of the jade carvers and sculptors in New Zealand, all of whom demonstrate the range of styles, skills and traditions