Pounamu is the Māori name for New Zealand greenstone — a type of nephrite jade or bowenite found mainly on the South Island's West Coast. In Māori culture, pounamu is deeply sacred and holds immense spiritual significance; it's carved into hei-tiki pendants, weapons, and tools that are passed down through generations as taonga (treasures). The richer the color and quality, the more prized the stone. Today pounamu is recognized globally as a symbol of New Zealand identity, and its ownership and trade is protected under Māori tribal authority.
She wore a pounamu pendant her grandmother had gifted her — a piece that had been in the family for over a century.
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(NZ) Jade, nephrite.
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