Greenstone Pendant with Silver Koru

There are many legends around New Zealand's precious Pounamu. One of them is the legend of Poutini.

Poutini is a water spirit Taniwha that swims up and down South Islands West coast protecting People and the precious Pounamu (Greenstone).

Legend has it that Poutini saw a young woman, Waitaiki, bathing near Tūhua in the North Island. Poutini fell in love with Waitaiki but she was married. Her husband Tama-ahua found out and threatened to kill Poutini. Poutini abducted Waitaiki and fled to the South Island. Tama-ahua did not give up and when there seemed no way out Poutini hid Waitaiki in the bed of the Arahura River and changed her into Pounamu before he fled out to sea.

As the river washes over Waitaiki fragments are carried downstream to the sea. So Waitaiki became the mother-load of all Pounamu found down the Arahura River.