Pounamu

Episode 21 - Pounamu (Based on a True Story) 

Pounamu, or greenstone, is more than just a precious stone. It is a living treasure, the 'fish of Ngahue', as the old stories say. As such, it is considered more valuable than common stones such as gold or diamonds. We wear pounamu, we fight with it, we even liken it to the magnificence of the glistening ocean. But in its beauty lies a tūpato. Pounamu can be a vessel, a conduit where emotions, especially the more insidious type are captured and the, let's say “karma” is passed on to the future owner. This is why one must be careful when buying pounamu. You should not buy it from just anyone, and only a fool would buy a second-hand pounamu. Well, my friends, this is a story about a fool I knew. 

T.A. Whero