Sentencing of a mother-son duo caught smuggling 18kg of pounamu celebrated by iwi leaders

A mother and son, Boyuan Zhang and Xin Li, have been fined a total of $5,000 for smuggling 18 kilograms of pounamu. This marks the first instance of individuals being sentenced for the illicit trade of the culturally significant greenstone. The sentencing has been met with approval from iwi leaders, highlighting the seriousness with which the community views the protection of pounamu.

This case establishes a legal precedent for prosecuting the smuggling of pounamu, underscoring its cultural value and the community's commitment to its preservation.