Types of Greenstone Maori Glossary Design Meanings

Maori Language
ao - cloud	atua - gods, spirits	awa - river	Haere mai - Welcome
hau - wind	ika - fish	iti - small	kai - food
kainga - village	Ka pai - Thank-you	mang - stream, tributary	manu - bird
maunga - mountain	moana - sea, lake	motu - island	nui - big
one - beach, sand, mud	po - night	puke - hill	puna - water spring
rangi - sky or heaven	roa- long	roto - lake	rua - two, hole
te - the	Tena koe - Hello (to 1)	Tena koutou - Hello (to more than 3)	wai - water

Greenstone Types

Greenstone - A term peculiar to New Zealand to describe nephrite, with sometimes the inclusion of bowenite. It was called pounamu by the Maori people. Exports of raw greenstone have been illegal since 1947, because of its limited supplies. Bowenite (tangiwai) - a very translucent, olive-green to bluish-green type of serpentine, found mainly near the entrance to Milford Sound in the South Island. The word tangiwai came from the Maori legend relating to the petrification of the tears of a lamenting woman. Sometimes it is referred to as koko-tangiwai, koko meaning ear pendant, and this signifies its predominant use. Jade - The name given to two types of silicate minerals which come in a variety of colours, though the most valued is green. The finest jade is jadeite (which does not occur in New Zealand) and nephrite. Both are very hard and tough. The intensity of green in jade depends on the amount of iron present. Inanga (whitebait) - pearly-whitish, grey-green coloured pounamu which can be translucent and with a fine texture. Kahurangi - highly translucent, lightish green pounamu with lighter streaks (which look like clouds) and free from dark spots or any flaws. It is one of the rarest varieties of pounamu Kakotea - streaky dark green pounamu with black spots Kawakawa - a strong dark green pounamu with varying intermediate shades and is named because its color resembles that of the leaf of the kawakawa or lofty pepper tree (macropiper excelsum) Nephrite - a European name for kahurangi, kawakawa and inanga. It is the only jade mineral found in this country. A very tough mineral and in New Zealand, sources of nephrite are confined to the South Island. The districts surrounding the Taramakau and Arahura Rivers in Westland and the Lake Wakatipu area of Otago are where the main deposits have been found. With its ability to retain a very hard, sharp cutting edge, nephrite was very well suited as a wood-cutting tool and the most common early Maori use was for adzes (toki) and chisels (whao). These were fitted into carved wooden handles and lashed together with plaited flax fibre cords. Pounamu - also known as greenstone, is the Maori group term for both nephrite and bowenite. The Maori classified pounamu according to colour and named many varieties. There are four (4) main types: kawakawa, kahurangi, inanga and tangiwai. The first three are nephrite and the fourth - tangiwai - is bowenite. Although the Maori placed tangiwai as a variety of pounamu, they knew of its difference and limitations. Three others are kakotea, kohuwa and totoweka Pounamu will benefit from the addition of light, scented oil and if it is not be be worn very regularly, is best stored in a felt or leather pouch. A very light smear of oil in the pouch will enhance the carved pounamu with a beautiful warm gloss Pounamu was normally suspended from thin leather or plaited flax; metal chains do not harmonise with the stone. It was traditional for a piece to be worn level with the cavity where the two collarbones meet above the chest.

 

Design Meanings

Crossover and Triple Twist - represents a bonding of friendship, two lives becoming one for all eternity

Hei-tiki - Hei - from the neck or neck pendant         tiki - human form The typical hei-tiki has a large, angled rounded or pointed head, usually just slightly less then half of the total length and with the mouth on either the left or right side. The eyes were often inset with paua shell (Haliotis iris) but later, after arrival of Europeans, red sealing wax was used. Usually, the remainder of the body featured a relatively large abdomen and the legs in a squatting position, with the heels together and both hands resting on the thighs.

Hei-matau - (fish hook) was not as common as the hei-tiki as a neck ornament, the Maori fish hook was made in a variety of designs to suit the catching of the wide variety of fish around New Zealand . Matau, meaning hook, like the hei-tiki was worn suspended by a cord from the neck. Its importance goes back at least as far as the legend of Maui. Today, it represents strength and determination and brings peace, prosperity and good health. Also provides safe journey especially over water.

Kapeu - pendant with curved lower end

Koropepe - design has a coiled snake-like or eel appearance with a bird-like head. The design is a relatively modern form as no ancient examples have been found.

Koru - spiral design depicting new beginnings, growth and harmony

Kuru - straight pendant

Manaia - mythical bird-like person with the head in profile and coming to a point which gives the appearance of a beak. Sometimes the head portion only was used as a separate design to replace the hands and feet of an otherwise normal figure. It was much used in the carved barge boards of canoes and for the door and window lintels of carved buildings. The manaia can mean many things in Maori folklore, but this spritual and mythical creature was and still is regarded as a tribal guardian. Some were grotesque figures while others were almost human, but still with a fierce facial expression. There are three fingers and toes or claws on each limb.

Marakihau (sea monster) - a development of the manaia design, it has a bird-like head and was made predominately by Maori of the Northland and Auckland districts.

Pekapeka (bat) - the symmetrical design believed to represent the native bat by its outline shape, has the profile of two outward facing heads sharing the one body. It was made predominately by Maori of the Northland and Auckland districts and although it is now also worn as a penadant, it used to be worn from the ear. Similar designs but with only one head in profile, are the marakihau and manaia which are worn hanging vertically.

 

Maori Glossary

Amo - front side panels supporting the bargeboards (maihi) of a house

Aotearoa - Land of The Long White Cloud, a Maori name for New Zealand. Its origin is attributed to Hine-te-aparangi.

Feather Cloak (kahu huruhuru) - Of all the traditional garments of the Maori, it is the feather cloak which is the most highly prized as a family and personal heirloom. The base of the cloak was made from flax fibre (muka) which had been washed, bleached to almost white and softened. The fibres would then be rolled together until a long yarn was formed, which was then woven into the large rectangle, shaped at the shoulders and hips. Onto this was fastened the feathers, the most prized ones being those of the huia and kiwi ( especially the rare white albino kiwi). Sometimes the cloak would be fringed with taniko or white kiwi feathers. Less prized but certainly more colourful cloaks were made from the feathers of the wood pigeon (white from breast and green from back), kaka or native parrot(red) and tui (blue-black).   korowai cloak ornamented with black rolled cords   mahiti very fine cloak with tassels of fur from a kuri's (Polynesian dog introduced to NZ) tail   ngore cloak decorated with pompoms   paepaeroa kaitaka cloak with vertical wefts   paheke cloak ornamentation of rolling coloured cords   patea kaitaka cloak with wide taniko border along the bottom and narrower ones on each side

Haka - song and war dance performed by males.

Hangi - the pressing of noses together in greeting.

Harakeke - New Zealand flax Phormium tenax plant was most used for Maori fibre work

Hei-tiki - Hei - from the neck or neck pendant         tiki - human form The typical hei-tiki has a large, angled rounded or pointed head, usually just slightly less then half of the total length and with the mouth on either the left or right side. The eyes were often inset with paua shell (Haliotis iris) but later, after arrival of Europeans, red sealing wax was used. Usually, the remainder of the body featured a relatively large abdomen and the legs in a squatting position, with the heels together and both hands resting on the thighs.

Hinau - tree, Elaeocarpus dentatus. The bark was/is used to 'fix' the black mud dye used on flax and kiekie

Hongi - Maori form of greeting, involving pressing (not rubbing) of noses.

Hui - a special gathering of Maori people normally on a marae. There are defined behaviour codes and rituals

Iwi - Maori tribe, the largest social group within Maoridom. Iwi were divided into hapu (sub-tribe), which in turn are made up of whanau (households).

Kai - Food

Kaumatua - The patriarchal head of household, elder

Kanono - small tree Coprosma grandifolia , the bark of which is used to produce yellow dye.

Karakia - chant or prayer

Kete - basket or bag, plaited from strips of flax or other material  Kete muka, basket or bag, woven of flax or other material  Kete whakairo, basket with decorative pattern

Kiekie - climbing plant Freycinetia baueriana used cloak, mat and basketmaking

Kiwi Apterygidae - are the most primitive birds found in New Zealand. There are 3 species of this flightless bird; brown, littled spotted and great spotted.

Koruru - the carved face at the apex of bargeboards of a house

Kotiate - figure of "8" shaped short club

Kumara Ipomoea batatas - a sweet potato which was a major food crop of the pre-European Maori. It is grown here successfully only on north-facing gardens in very warm climate.

Maihi - bargeboard of a house

Mana - Prestige, authority

Marae - the open space in front of a meeting house. Behaviour on the marae is governed by strict protocol.

Mere - one of three types of patu (short club), the mere being the simplest form, shaped like a short paddle and broad and flat at the striking end and with a maximum of two or three grooves on the handle end which also had a hole to allow a wrist-cord to be attached. Due to its hardness, the greenstone mere was always ground much more thinly than those of whalebone or stone and when held against the light, the thin edges have a translucent glow, making a beautiful and also fearsome weapon. Of all the short weapons made of wood stone or bone, the mere pounamu was held in the highest regard. Ancient mere were often carved from the prized inanga variety of jade.

Moko - Maori tattoo applied with a special chisel called a uhi.

Pa - pre-European Maori word for a fortified village. The word is used nowdays for any settlement or village.

Papa - Maori word for earth floor. Also represents the wife of Rangi and mother of mankind.

Pare - top horizontal panel over a door or window

Patu - any type of short club (mere, meremere, kotiate). All had in common a wide striking end with sharpened edges and a rounded portion for holding in the hand, which was pierced and threaded with a thong for attaching around the wrist.

Piupiu - is the only item of traditional Maori costume, which is still sometimes worn and made roughly to the same technique as in olden times. The making of the piupiu is incredibly time consuming and complex. The piupiu has approximately 250 blades of flax, each one of which is treated by hand many times, from its marking, cutting with a mussel shell, stripping of green leaf through to the fibre, fixing, dyeing & drying and weaving of leaves together to form the kilt-like skirt.

Poi - Ball on either a short or long string, used by the women in very graceful dances and made of leaves

Pokinikini - strips of flax leaf, with intervals of exposed inner fibre dyed black, which while drying, have rolled into cylinders.

Poutokomanawa - the interior central post of a house. v Rangi - the father of 8 major gods. He represents the sky and in Maori mythology, is the founding father of mankind. Rangi and Papa were husband and wife, locked in an embrace. They were separated by their son Tanemahuta (god of the forest).

Rongo - Maori god of peace and agriculture, son of Rangi and Papa

Taiaha - often mistaken for a spear but it was never intended to be thrown. It was in reality a long club and was one of the main weapons of the Maori warrior. They were made from light, strong, dense-grained wood and ideally weighed no more than 1-2 lbs. The pointed end known as "arero" or tongue was often carved and decorated. From there the shaft ran for some 5 to 6 ft, lessening in thickness and widening out to about 3 to 4 inches. The taiaha was weilded and carried with the blade uppermost.

Taonga - Cultural items (treasures) such as carvings or woven cloaks passed down through generations

Tane - Maori god of the forests. Is also a general word for male or husband.

Tangaroa - Maori god of the sea, one of the sons of Rangi and Papa.

Taniko - decorative Maori weaving technique.

Taniwha - a Maori word for a mythical monster or demon.

Tapu - Sacred. Taboo in english. Forbidden

Tekoteko - carved human-like figure on the gable of whare or figurehead of canoe. It is to be found on almost every marae and usually portrays a long-departed paramount chief.

Tewhatewha - long club with axe-like blade

Tohunga - Maori priest or gifted and very knowledgable person.

Tukutuku - decorative knotted latticework interior panels of a house, normally between poupou v Tu-matauenga - Maori god of war and son of Rangi and Papa.

Wahaika - short club with crescent-shaped blade

Wahine - Maori word for woman or wife

Waiata - Maori songs which are sung rather than chanted.

Waka - Maori word for canoe. Socially a group of tribes associated by common descent from ancestors who arrived in New Zealand in canoes.

Whakakai - long earrings

Whare - Maori word for house. Most whare were small with a tiny door. As they were only considered as sleeping houses, they were rarely tall enough for a person to stand upright. They consisted of wooden frames and the walls and roof were of tightly woven dry grass and flax. The fireplace, in the middle enclosed by stones, was slept around. Most whare had a verandah.

Whiro - Maori god of evil and darkness, a son of Rangi and Papa