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Pounamu is a type of greenstone here are some more,

Actinolite.

Agate.

Alexandrite.

Amazonite.

Apatite.

Aventurine.

Bloodstone.

Color Change Diaspore.

Pounamu is the traditional Māori name.

Greenstone is a common term, but increasingly it is being replaced by pounamu.

Pounamu occurs in two mineral forms. Nephrite, the most common form, is a calcium magnesium silicate mineral of the amphibole group. It contains small amounts of iron, which determine the depth of the green colour.

Bowenite, found only at the entrance to Milford Sound, is an iron magnesium silicate mineral that is an unusual, translucent form of serpentine.

Overseas, the term ‘jade’ refers to two minerals widely used for carving – nephrite and jadeite. There is no jadeite in New Zealand. Strictly speaking, the term jade does not include bowenite.

Pounamu is found only in the South Island. Because of this, the island was originally named Te Wāhi Pounamu (the place of pounamu), but over time this name changed to Te Wai Pounamu (the greenstone waters).

The South Island Ngāi Tahu people have a particularly close relationship with pounamu, which is found only within their tribal area. It is valued for its strength, durability and beauty. However, its value transcends the aesthetic and practical properties. Because of its link with chiefs and peace making, it is considered to have mana (status) and to be tapu(sacred). The stone is highly treasured by all tribes throughout New Zealand, and it was extensively traded in the North Island.

Kawa kawa
is named after our native pepper tree as like the tree it has a medium to dark colouring with black spots or lines.

Kahurangi

which means clear like the sky. This greenstone is usually clear light green with few inclusions or markings.

Inanga

this greenstone is pale greyish in appearance usually with few markings. It is named after a native fish with similar colouring

Flower Jade

or Marsden stone is a greenstone with orange brown markings giving very beautiful features.

Guided along the sacred Arahura River you will journey and learn the significance of Pounamu important to the Kati Waewae Hapu (West Coast Tribal Authority). Authentic Legends will be shared passed down through generations from the local Maori elders. Arahura Greenstone tour is an unique culture, finding, carving experience.  Find and make your own piece of New Zealand History on the last.

Access: Readily accessible from Beach St, via Weld Lane, Sunset Point Rd & several other access roads (see map).
Features: Wonderful wild beach, black sand & pebbles (including pounamu-jade), driftwood, mountain views, sunsets, sunrise, & starry nights. Walks, picnicking, fossicking for pebbles & driftwood, sandcastles, swimming (for the experienced only), surfing, & surfcasting. Keep your eyes open for the Little Blue Penguin but please respect their space!

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Have a look at this site
http://www.hokitika.org/local-tips/105/Pounamu-(NZ-Jade)

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Excavations at the Kawatiri archaeological site, near the mouth of the Buller River, indicates that people were living close to Westport by the early 14th century. The photographs show a general view of the site when a University of Otago team started excavation (lower), and a more detailed view of part of the site when it was opened up (above).

Excavations at this site have revealed a number of adzes and flaked tools, which come from a variety of sources including obsidian from Mayor Island in the Bay of Plenty, baked argillite (adzite) from Nelson and pounamu (greenstone) from the Arahura valley. It is clear that there was considerable exchange of different stones suitable for making tools.

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Pounamu refers to several types of hard, durable and highly valued nephrite jade, bowenite, or serpentinite stone found in southern New Zealand. Pounamu is the Māori name. These rocks are also generically known as "greenstone" in New Zealand English.

There are two systems for classifying pounamu. Geologically, the rock falls into the three categories named above, but Māori classify pounamu by appearance.[1] The main classifications are kawakawa, kahurangi, īnanga, and tangiwai. The first three are nephrite jade, while tangiwai is a form of bowenite.[2]

Īnanga pounamu takes its name from a native freshwater fish (Galaxias maculatus) and is pearly-white or grey-green in colour and varies from translucent to opaque.[3]

Kahurangi pounamu is highly translucent and has a vivid shade of green. It is named after the clearness of the sky and is the rarest variety of pounamu.[4]

Kawakawa pounamu comes in many shades, often with flecks or inclusions, and is named after the leaves of the native kawakawa tree (Macropiper excelsum). It is the most common variety of pounamu.[5]

Tangiwai pounamu is clear like glass but in a wide range of shades. The name comes from the word for the tears that come from great sorrow.[6]

In modern usage pounamu almost always refers to nephrite jade. Pounamu is generally found in rivers in specific parts of the South Island as nondescript boulders and stones. These are difficult to identify as pounamu without cutting them open.

Pounamu plays a very important role in Māori culture. It is considered a taonga (treasure) and therefore protected under the Treaty of Waitangi. Pounamu taonga increase in mana (prestige) as they pass from one generation to another. The most prized taonga are those with known histories going back many generations. These are believed to have their own mana and were often given as gifts to seal important agreements.

Pounamu taonga include tools such as toki (adzes), whao (chisels), whao whakakōka (gouges), ripi pounamu (knives), scrapers, awls, hammer stones, and drill points. Hunting tools include matau (fishing hooks) and lures, spear points, and kākā poria (leg rings for fastening captive birds); weapons such as mere (short handled clubs); and ornaments such as pendants (hei-tiki, hei matau and pekapeka), ear pendants (kuru and kapeu), and cloak pins. [7][8] Functional pounamu tools were widely worn for both practical and ornamental reasons, and continued to be worn as purely ornamental pendants (hei kakï) even after they were no longer used as tools.[9]

Pounamu is found only in the South Island of New Zealand, known in Māori as Te Wai Pounamu ("The [land of] Greenstone Water") or Te Wahi Pounamu ("The Place of Greenstone"). In 1997 the Crown handed back the ownership of all naturally occurring pounamu to the South Island tribe Ngāi Tahu,[10][11] as part of the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement.

Modern use[edit]

Jewellery and other decorative items made from gold and pounamu were particularly fashionable in New Zealand in the Victorian and Edwardian years in the late 19th and early 20th century.[12][13] It continues to be popular among New Zealanders and is often presented as gifts to visitors and to New Zealanders moving overseas. Viggo Mortensen, Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, took to wearing a hei matau around his neck. Michael Hurst of the television programme Hercules was given a large and heavy pounamu pendant necklace which he wore on the programme. During a particularly energetic action scene the pendant bumped his teeth. The producers felt the ornament suited the nature of the programme yet considered it a safety risk, and had it replaced with a latex replica.

Pounamu is a hard, highly valued stone mainly found as boulders. It is also called greenstone or New Zealand jade.

It is treasured by Māori because:

it is strong and beautiful

it is a sign of status or power

it is believed to be sacred.

Where is it found?

It is only found in the South Island, so it is very important to the tribe there, Ngāi Tahu. The boulders are often found in or near rivers. Pounamu in its natural state belongs to Ngāi Tahu.

Tools

At first, Māori used the stone to make tools such as adzes, chisels, gouges and knives for carving and cutting wood. Sometimes they made fish hooks, hammer stones and points for spears. They used sandstone to shape the pounamu.

Adornment

Māori made pounamu into earrings, necklaces and rings. The most well-known type of neck pendant is called the tiki. This is shaped like a figure sitting cross-legged, with its head on one side.

Symbol of a chief

Pounamu weapons were used for fighting, but they were also carried by chiefs to show their high status. They were also used in ceremonies, and sometimes they were given as a symbol of a peace agreement.

These items were treasures. They were often given names and reminded people of stories about their ancestors. Te Āwhiorangi is an adze that is said to have been used by the god Tāne. He used it to cut the bindings that held Ranginui (the sky) and Papatūānuku (the earth) together.

Modern-day carving

Today, people sometimes use a helicopter to lift a pounamu boulder from a river bed. Carvers use diamond-tipped tools to cut and shape the stone, which is made into souvenirs and art objects.

Greenstone is our name for the nephrite jade that comes from the South Island of New Zealand. We also call it pounamu.

Nephrite is principally a calcium magnesium silicate. Its structure is made up of tightly felted crystal fibres which is the reason for its' incredible toughness (Mohs 6.5) and its unique structure, it is also the reason we can do what we do with it and why the surface of a finished carving possesses a smooth glowing lustre and a greasy or wax-like quality.

Greenstone has a long tradition of being used and revered here starting with the first Maori inhabitants who fulfilled an ancient prophecy by travelling over the seas to find 'the God stone' as it was known then.

It was shaped into tools, weapons, and jewellery. This tradition for jewellery making has continued through to today.

The spiritual significance of greenstone has long been recognised in New Zealand and I believe that if a person is attracted to wearing a carving it will have an enhancing and empowering effect on their life.Kawa kawa

is named after our native pepper tree as like the tree it has a medium to dark colouring with black spots or lines.

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Pounamu is Nzs Prized stone

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Pounamu is very valuable to many people

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Pounamu come in many shads strong rich green and back green.

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Pounamu mean green stone or jade.
the Maori use the green spear.
they use green stone as tools

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Pounamu means greenstone so did's NZ Jade.

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pounamu means a lot to the Maori and some other people.

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Poutini the taniwha swims up and down the west coast of the South Island,protecting both the people and the mauri of pounmu.

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there are different ypes of greenstone.

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Pounamu
The Two Tribes Of The West Coast Are:
Ngai wae wae
Ngai Tahu

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Pounamu is a tipe of green ston

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Pounamu is the name for Greenstone.