Is it bad luck to buy your own greenstone?

We're often asked about the Māori traditions around gifting greenstone — and whether it's considered bad luck to buy pounamu for yourself. It's one of the most common questions we get at The Sanctuary BNE, and it's worth exploring properly.

The Traditional View

In Māori culture, pounamu necklaces were crafted into powerful traditional symbols and gifted to spiritual leaders and people of high standing. Māori spiritual leaders handed down greenstone for generations, and through this practice, gifting became deeply embedded in the culture.

Certain pieces of greenstone were even believed to have their own spirit — choosing their wearer rather than the other way around. In this context, carving or taking a piece for yourself was seen as potentially disrespectful to the spirit or guardian of the jade.

We explore this tradition in much more depth in our article on why pounamu is traditionally gifted — and why that still matters today.

What About Today?

Today, it is increasingly common — and widely accepted — to purchase a piece of greenstone for yourself. We live in a globalised world where many people are drawn to pounamu through personal connection rather than Māori custom, and that's completely valid.

What matters most is the intention behind your choice. Choosing greenstone with respect and understanding of its meaning is what honours the tradition — not who pays for it.

Consider what's important to you. Are you drawn to a particular shape? A koru for new beginnings, a toki for strength, or a roimata for healing? Our Toki, Koru or Roimata guide can help you find the shape that resonates.

Choosing With Meaning

Whether you're buying for yourself or gifting to someone you love, the most important thing is choosing a piece that carries genuine meaning. Understanding the symbolism behind each shape is a great place to start — our greenstone necklace meanings guide covers every popular design.

And if you'd like to understand the full range of pounamu shapes before you decide, our guide to greenstone shapes and their meanings walks you through each one.

Browse Authentic NZ Greenstone →

From my little Kiwi corner in Brisbane,
Mel 💜
The Sanctuary BNE