A mineral found in the southern New Zealand and regarded by the native Maori as the most precious worldly possession.

In pre-european times Greenstone was the preferred material for tools, weapons and personal ornamentation (rings, earrings, pendants, etc). It is still widely used for personal ornamentation and Greenstone toki (Adzes) are sold to any tourists who have more money than sense.

In modern-day New Zealand the wearing of Greenstone pendants is typically a sign that the wearer is of Maori extraction or identifies with the Maori cause.


A digital library software system from the New Zealand Digital Library.

see: http://www.greenstone.org/