Touchstone, Te Papa

Touchstone, Te Papa

This pounamu boulder, known as Mauri, is at Rongomaraeroa, the marae at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. It was gifted by the Ngāi Tahu people, the traditional guardians of pounamu. It is said that the wairua or spirit of the stone protects traditional Māori values in all ceremonies that take place on the marae.