Editing Nephrite (section)

===Māori===
[[File:Amphibole 2 - Nephrite Jade Basic calcium magnesium iron silicate Lander County Wyoming 2075.jpg|thumb|upright|Nephrite from [[Wyoming]]]]
Nephrite jade in [[New Zealand]] is known as {{lang|mi|[[pounamu]]}} in the [[Māori language]] and is highly valued, playing an important role in [[Māori people|Māori]] [[Culture of the Māori|culture]]. It is considered a {{lang|mi|[[taonga]]}}, or treasure, and therefore  protected under the [[Treaty of Waitangi]]. The exploitation of it is restricted to the {{lang|mi|[[Ngāi Tahu]]|italic=no}} ''[[iwi]]'' (tribe)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/ngai-tahu/the-settlement/settlement-offer/cultural-redress/ownership-and-control/pounamu/ |title = Pounamu - Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu}}</ref> and it is closely monitored. The [[South Island]] of New Zealand is {{lang|mi|Te Wai Pounamu}} in Māori — 'The [land of] Greenstone Water' — because that is where it occurs.

Weapons and ornaments are made of it; in particular the {{lang|mi|[[mere (weapon)|mere]]}} (short club) and the {{lang|mi|[[hei-tiki]]}} (neck pendant). These are believed to have their own {{lang|mi|[[Mana (Oceanian mythology)|mana]]}} (prestige), are handed down as valuable heirlooms, and often given as gifts to seal important agreements. It has also been used for a range of tools such as [[adze]]s and was used to make nails used in construction, as Māori culture had no metalworking before European contact.

Commonly called "greenstone," jade [[jewellery]] in Māori designs is widely popular with tourists. Stone is often imported from Canada, China and Siberia, and {{lang|mi|Ngāi Tahu|italic=no}} runs a pounamu certification scheme to verify the authenticity of New Zealand stone.