Bound for China: The sacred Māori stones being targeted by smugglers | The World | ABC News

In a first prosecution of its kind in New Zealand, a mother-son duo were found guilty of attempting to illegally export 18 kilograms of Pounamu, a green stone that is sacred to Māori culture. Boyuan Zhang and his mother, Xin Li, were sentenced for smuggling and fined a total of NZ $5,000. The raw stones were bound for China, that's emerged as a top destination for smugglers. Francois Tumahai, Chair of Te Runanga o Ngāti Waewae spoke to The World's Girish Sawlani about the increase in efforts to smuggle Pounamu out of New Zealand.

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