Poutini

The name of a celebrated stone brought by Ngahue to New Zealand, and which is commonly known as "the fish (ika) of Ngahua." It was a block of greenstone or jade, out of which several celebrated axes (Tutauru, Hauhau-te-rangi) and ornaments were made.

Poutini also appears as the name of a chief (star) that dwells in the sky and who is the origin of the pounamu (greenstone).1

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References

Notes

  1. Best, Eldson. (1899). "Notes on Maori Mythology." Journal of the Polynesian Society 8:93-121, p. 110.

Sources

  • Grey, Sir George. (1922). Polynesian Mythology. Londen: George Routledge & Sons, pp. 99 ff.
  • Tregear, Edward. (1891). Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Wellington: Government Printer, p. 360.