Overview
Māori classify pounamu according to its colours, markings, and translucency. There are many local names for different pounamu, but four main varieties are widely recognised by iwi (tribes): inanga, kahurangi, kawakawa, and tangiwai.
Within each of these four groups, the range in the appearance of the pounamu is endless. More than one variety can also exist within one stone.
Here, you can see examples of natural and worked pounamu from these main varieties. Several other kinds of pounamu are recognised, such as the distinctive spotted kokopu on display.
He kōhatu kakano-tini
Ko tā te Māori wehewehe i te pounamu kei te āhua o te kano, o ngā kōiraira me te whakatiaho. He maha ngā ingoa ā-takiwa mō ngā pounamu rerekē, otirā e whā ngā momo matua e mōhiotia nuitia ana e ngā iwi katoa: ko te inanga, ko te kahurangi, ko te kawakawa, me te tangiwai.
I roto i ēnei wehenga e whā, he tini ngā momo āhuatanga pounamu. He maha kē atu i te āhuatanga kotahi i roto i te momo kōhatu kotahi.
I konei ka kite koe i ētahi tauira o ngā pounamu nō te aotūroa, me ētahi pounamu i tāreia e te ringa tangata, i ēnei momo matua. Arā anō ngā momo pounamu e mōhiotia ana, pēnei me te kōkopu me ōna kōtingotingo, e whakaaria atu nei.