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. The Māori word pounamu is derived from namu, an archaic word that describes blue-green (or 'grue') cognate with Tahitian ninamu. [2] .

新西兰玉，又称绿玉，直译普纳姆（Pounamu，字面意思为“绿色的石头”）。 是主要分布在 新西兰 南部的几种坚固耐用的石材。 这种 玉石 对于 毛利人 有着重要的价值，尤其是用新西兰玉制成的硬石雕刻品在毛利人文化中起着重要作用。

Kawakawa is the most common pounamu variety and is a very popular stone for carving because of its abundance and ability to hold most shapes. It gets its name from the kawakawa leaf or Pepper tree. Kawakawa

With its name coming from the kawakawa leaf, the stone is the darkest green shade of all pounamu, ranging from emerald-green to almost black, and its rich and intense flesh often includes tiny dark inclusions/flecks. As an opaque stone, it is only translucent at the extreme edges of a slab or when very thinly sliced and held up to the light.

Pounamu is only found in the South Island of New Zealand giving the South Island its name "Te Wai Pounamu" or "the waters of greenstone". The main greenstone deposits are located around the Taramakau and Arahura rivers in Westland, along the coast in south Westland, Lake Wakatipu in Otago, and Milford Sound in Fiordland.

A stunning Fern Leaf carved from a beautiful piece of Marsden Flower Pounamu, a striking piece with a Koru, for a unique loved one. Silver fern - has been accepted as a symbol of New Zealand's national identity since the 1880s. To Māori, the elegant shape of the fronds stood for strength, stubborn resistance, and enduring power.

His pieces are a mix of traditional & contemporary designs inspired by organic forms in nature. His pounamu is sourced from Ngai Tahu, the legal kaitiaki & the only authentic source of Aotearoa’s Pounamu since 1997. We are proud to support, Luke Leaf!

2024年4月12日 · Pounamu, or perhaps more commonly known as jade or greenstone, is a precious and rare stone found only in Te Waipounamu (the South Island of Aotearoa, directly translated to “the greenstone waters”). The particular green hue might be recognisable for some, but few outside of Aotearoa know the story and significance of pounamu.

Find the perfect pounamu types for your collection. Learn about Kawakawa, Putiputi, Totoweka, and other types used in traditional carvings.

New Zealand Pounamu - an authentication system by Ngāi Tahu to validate the origin of New Zealand pounamu, highlight the cultural and historical important of pounamu, and provide an online outlet for the work of genuine pounamu carvers.