Pounamu

Pounamu matau barb
Pounamu hei matau pendant, a heavily stylized fishhook
The southwest coast of New Zealand is named Te Wai Pounamu ("The greenstone waters"), after its deposits of greenstone, and the area resembles greenstone in this view from space.[1] The term is also the official Māori name for the South Island.

Pounamu is a term for several types of hard and durable stone found in the South Island of New Zealand. They are highly valued in New Zealand, and carvings made from pounamu play an important role in Māori culture.

  1. ^ "The Greenstone Waters, New Zealand". NASA. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2017.