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Pounamu
- New Zealand Greenstone (Nephrite Jade)
The Maori word for greenstone is pounamu. They call the South Island of New Zealand Te Wai Pounamu, meaning The [land of] Greenstone Water. Greenstone is highly valued by the Maori and it plays an important role in their culture. It is considered a taonga or treasure and is protected under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Greenstone is a very hard stone and must be worked with care and patience. Often diamond tools are needed to carve it, and turn it into beautiful Jewellery, in traditional Maori designs.
Because greenstone is so hard it has been used as an alternative to iron in axes and similar hand tools. The Maori club, the mere, was often made of greenstone. Greenstone artefacts were often given as gifts to seal important agreements.
Greenstone Jewellery
Manaia Pendant
Spiritual Guardian. Provider, Protector over the air, waters and land. Protects from evil. Traditionally includes head of bird, body of man and tail of a fish, creating balance of sky, earth and sea.
The manaia is a supernatural being, an iwi guardian, to ward of danger, to frighten away intruders. The manaia is a bird-like figure, a spiritual and mythical creature.
There are three fingers, toes or claws on each limb, and the designs are serpentine, producing flowing lines.
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| Greenstone Sculpture
Patu, Mere or Wahaika
The mere is shaped like a short paddle - broad and flat at the striking end with a maximum of two or three grooves on the handle end.
Due to its hardness, the greenstone / jade mere was always ground thinner than mere made of whalebone or stone; therefore when held against the light, the thin edges have a translucent glow, making a beautiful and also fearsome weapon.
Modern usage symbolises facing and overcoming life's challenges and difficulties.
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More about New Zealand Greenstone
New Zealand greenstone is formed by the metamorphism of basalt. It is composed of chlorite and epidote which makes the greenstone a mid-to-dark green colour.
Greenstone rocks are generally found in rivers. They appear as nondescript boulders and stones and are difficult to identify without cutting them open. The mining of greenstone is closely controlled.
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