The Whakapapa of Pounamu with Ben Brown
The Whakapapa of Pounamu
Award-winning author, poet and writer, Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Paoa) talks about the whakapapa of pounamu and how Maori first discovered this precious stone and began to work with it.
Moko Pounamu Knowledge Library
The arrival of a pēpi (baby) ignites any whānau with joy and a sense of connection. As we gather for their naming, tohi (dedication), or baptism, we seek taonga that embody our hopes and anchor them to their whakapapa.
As the Southern Hemisphere settles into winter and the nights grow longer, many New Zealanders have become familiar with watching for Matariki to signal the beginning of the Māori New Year - and a public holiday to enjoy with our families. But there's another celestial guide that deserves our attention, particularly here in the South Island: Puanga, the brilliant star that serves as an equally significant marker for this sacred time of year.
