A PRIME minister from the other side of the world has sent a gift of “great spiritual and cultural value” to Blaenau Ffestiniog schoolchildren.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern sent a pounamu, or greenstone, to Ysgol y Moelwyn pupils after they sent her a piece of slate emblazoned with a ‘Llechi Bro’ logo in a bid to strengthen the attempt to get UNESCO World Heritage status for north Wales’ slate mining tradition.

The pounamu is only found on one island on Earth and is “highly prized” in the country.

Small pieces of slate, from Cwt y Bugail quarry, prepared and donated by Grey Slate in Porthmadog, have been sent out by pupils to presidents, principals, and prime ministers across the globe in an attempt to capture the region’s global significance over the last 200 years.

Mrs Ardern, who hit the headlines earlier this year for being the first world leader to take maternity leave, has thanked the pupils for their generosity and said she feels “very connected” with the schoolchildren and their town.

In a letter to the school, she wrote: “Thank you so much for your letter, and the beautiful gift of slate.

“I was very interested to read a bit about your community and your history, and holding this piece of slate in my hands makes me feel very connected to you all.

“I feel honoured to be part of your project, and appreciate you spending the time and money on sending your letters and gift all the way to the other side of the world!

“In return I am including a photograph of myself with the slate, and I am also enclosing a small piece of New Zealand’s highly prized pounamu.”

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