In a landmark ruling, a mother and son were fined $5,000 for attempting to illegally export 18kg of pounamu, a protected stone, from Auckland International Airport. The Manukau District Court imposed the fine after the pair was discovered during a baggage search on July 1, 2024. The legal limit for exporting pounamu in any form is 5kg, unless special permission is granted by the Minister of Customs. During the investigation, the 28-year-old son admitted to being aware of the export limit but failed to obtain the necessary consent. Notably, Customs records revealed that he had previously contacted the border authority regarding an earlier incident where his father attempted to take pounamu on a flight to China in May 2024. This case is significant as it marks the first successful prosecution by Customs for illegal pounamu export, highlighting the enforcement of regulations surrounding this culturally significant stone.