Background on Paua World

All companies have a beginning, ours was in an old chicken shed in 1979 in the town of Masterton – North Island, New Zealand, population 20,000, two years later the company and factory was moved South some 14 kilometers to its present purpose built site in the small rural town of Carterton, population 4100. We now have 3 companies, Te Kai Pacific Ltd, the factory and parent company, New Zealand Shellcraft, the wholesale company and Paua World the retail tourist attraction.

To date, the Te Kai Group of companies is one of the largest suppliers of shell products in New Zealand and employs 60 people. As well as our shell products, we also manufacture Greenstone, bone carvings, Glass coasters and various types of resin products and souvenirs.