A 50-year-old man and 42-year-old woman from Tarras and a 62-year-old woman from the Haast area are each facing representative charges of theft.
Police said they recovered a total of 1.8 tonnes of pounamu during raids on properties in Haast and Tarras last week.
The pounamu is the property of Ngāi Tahu under the Pounamu (Ngai Tahu) Vesting Act.
Poutini Ngāi Tahu representatives were in the public gallery yesterday as the alleged offenders appeared for the first time before a court registrar.
All three were remanded on bail to reappear before a judge in Greymouth on May 20.
Interim name suppression was granted for each until then, and was not opposed by police.
Lawyer Stewart Sluis sought name suppression for the 62-year-old accused due to the effects publishing her name would have on her family, and the media attention surrounding the case, which had been ‘‘blown out of proportion’’.
Mr Sluis also appeared for the Tarras couple, who are jointly charged.
The court was told the pair, both farmers, live between Haast and Central Otago. He sought name suppression for both on similar grounds until their next appearance, again noting the media interest already in the ‘‘unproven allegations’’.
Outside of court, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick said the presence of both Ngāti Mahaki (Makaawhio), Ngāti Waewae and the Mawhera Incorporation in court yesterday sent a strong message.
‘‘It shows how seriously we regard the theft of our pounamu, and that regardless of who it is we stand with the police on the prosecution of those who want to steal our taonga.’’
Detectives from Tasman and Central Otago executed search warrants on April 21 targeting several properties in the Central Otago and South Westland areas.
West Coast police area commander Inspector Jacqui Corner said the operation followed reports of commercial sales of illegally sourced pounamu from the area and an ongoing investigation to track those responsible.
‘‘During the searches, police recovered approximately one tonne of pounamu. This was later increased to 1.8 tonne.
‘‘This is a fantastic result but also frustrating, as it involves a taonga allegedly stolen for profit by individuals who, we believe, had no right to claim it.’’
Insp Corner said police had been working closely with Poutini Ngāi Tahu and iwi chairs had welcomed the continued support and ongoing investigations.
‘‘The public are allowed to fossick for pounamu in approved areas, but this quantity can only be described as commercial.
‘‘Education and knowledge is important. We work with Poutini Ngāi Tahu to help people understand what is permissible.
‘‘But when it comes to what we’ve found here it’s very different to someone fossicking freely on a beach,’’ Insp Corner said.
‘‘This is large-scale theft.’’
The pounamu, of various sizes, has been seized by police as evidence. — Janna Sherman for the Hokitika Guardian
• Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick, is the editor of the Greymouth Star, Hokitika Guardian and The West Coast Messenger.
