Overview
Pounamu plays a powerful role in affirming and building many types of relationship – from the personal to the political. In this section, discover stories about pounamu of special significance.
In the past, families exchanged pounamu treasures at marriages to symbolise their new connection. Former enemies presented each other with gifts, such as mere pounamu (nephrite weapons), to establish lasting peace. In some districts, this making of peace was called te tatau pounamu – a ‘greenstone door’, that is, a door to close off the deeds of the past.
Today, pounamu continues to be a meaningful gift. It is sometimes exchanged between the government and iwi (tribes) to honour important agreements.
Te whakapakari whanaungatanga
I tēnei wāhanga ka tūpono ki ngā kōrero pūrākau tino whai mana ki te iwi.
Ko tētahi mahi i ngā rā o mua he whakawhitiwhiti taonga pounamu i ngā whakapākūhā, hei tohu mō te hononga hōu. Ka tauhokohokotia e ngā hoariri o aua wā he mere pounamu, hei tohu mō te hohou rongo. I ētahi takiwā ka kīia ēnei maunga ā-rongo he tatau pounamu, arā, he tatau aukati i ngā mahi o nanahi ki muri.
Kei te mau tonu ngā āhuatanga whai mana o te takoha pounamu i ēnei ra. I ētahi wā ka tukua i waenganui i te kāwanatanga me ngā iwi, hei tohu mō ngā whakaaetanga nunui.