Pounamu - Symbol of prestige

Pounamu is a stone of great mana, or prestige. To early Māori, pounamu treasures symbolised rank and leadership. Mere pounamu (nephrite weapons) and toki poutangata (ceremonial adzes) enhanced the dignity and status of those who owned them. Mere pounamu could also symbolise political relationships between iwi (tribes).

Pounamu taonga (treasures) increase in mana as they pass from one generation to the next. Today, the most prized taonga are those with known histories. They are a tangible link with rangatira (leaders) and important events of the past. 

In recent years, New Zealanders have come to value pounamu as a symbol of national identity. As an example, members of New Zealand’s Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams are given pounamu pendants to signify honour, pride, and team spirit.

He tohu rangatira

Ko tēnei mea te poumau he kohatu mana nui. E ai ki ngā tupuna, hei tohu ngā taonga pounamu katoa mō te tūrangatira o te tangata. Nā ngā mere pounamu me ngā toki poutangata i piki ake ai te mana me te ingoa o te hunga pupuri i aua taonga. Hei tohu te mere pounamu mō te hononga me te kotahitanga o ngā iwi.

Ka piki anō te mana o ngā taonga pounamu ina tukua iho ki tētahi whakatupuranga i tētahi whakatupuranga. I ēnei rā ko te tino taonga whai mana ko tērā e tino mōhiotia ana ōna kōrero. Hei manatunga ēnei mō ngā whakatupuranga, hei taonga paihere i te whakaaro ki ngā rangatira o mua me ngā mahi i mahia ai e rātou. 

I ēnei tau tata, kua piki te kaingākau o ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa ki te pounamu, ā, ka noho anō hei mea ātaahua mō te tuakiri o Aotearoa. Hoatu ai he hei pounamu ki ngā rōpūtoa o Aotearoa i ngā Taumāhekeheke o Te Ao, o Te Tōputanga o Ngā Whenua o Ingarangi hoki, hei tohu mō te tūrangatira, mō te mana tangata, me te kotahitanga o te rōpu.