Whakatauki Research

Te Awa o Poutini: 'the channel of Poutini' : A term applied to wood place to provide a channel for cutting a groove in greenstone.

E kore nei e taea i tera ki te waru: 'a day will not suffice for the scraping': The shaping of pounamu was a long painstaking task, hence this is equivalent to 'Rome wasn't built in a day'.

He iti kahurangi: 'a little treasure': May refer to a treasured greenstone ornament, a favored child or some other small object. Small in size is contrasted with great value and beauty.

He pounamu kakano rua: 'Greenstone of two textures' : May apply to a person of changeable moods or one who is two face. May also apply to someone who descends from two tribes.