 information secured from the Maoris, before the visits to Westland of Brunner and Heaphy, indicated that greenstone was found in the bed of a lake, and most of the informants, including one at Banks Peninsula, placed the lake in Otago. Lake Wakatipu is specified by Shortland, Chapman, and Beattie, while Polack's account, if of any value at all, seems to indicate Lake McKerrow, north-west of Wakatipu, and communicating with the sea by a short channel. The rivers Arahura and Teremakau* in northern Westland are never mentioned by these early informants as a source of supply, though they figure prominently in Maori myths relating to the origin of greenstone and probably provided the greater part of the greenstone used by Maoris in northern districts. The exploration of Westland by Brunner and Heaphy was followed at no long interval by the discovery of gold in Westland. From the auriferous sands and gravels a great amount of greenstone was secured by gold-miners, and came into the market. Lapidaries in New Zealand and overseas found a ready sale for faked curios, at first to the Maoris, and afterwards to tourists and collectors through the Maoris. The fact that Otago had ever produced greenstone was forgotten. Thus, Percy Smith stated (1910, p. 166): “It was the Arahura River, a few miles north of Hokitika, from which place, and its neighbourhood, the pou-namu has always been obtained.” Best stated (1912, p. 159), “Nephrite has only been found in the Taramakau and Arahura Rivers and
[Footnote] * In the Times Atlas the name of this river is spelt Teremakau. Chapman spells it Taramakau. Percy Smith (1910, p. 166) says: “Teremakau, not Taramakau, as usually spelt.” Best (1912, p. 159) says: “Taramakau, not Teremakau, as usually spelt.”
their vicinity.” When Chapman wrote his great paper he named the same district, and denied that the Wakatipu district had ever been a source of supply. Later, as has been seen, on the authority of Rawiri te Maire, he recorded the Dart Valley in Otago as a source.
It is probable that the bowenite deposit at Anita Bay, Milford Sound, was discovered by the Maori as early as the nephrite deposits traversed by the Arahura and the Teremakau. The Maori continued to work the deposit until European times, and it was ultimately exploited by a Dunedin firm, who were responsible for the very large number of faked pieces in bowenite to be seen in collections.
B. Maori Myths Relating to the Origin of Greenstone.
The myth relating to Ngahue and his connection with greenstone has been collected from various Maori tribes, and each account has variations of its own. The following appear to be the most important points. Hine-tu-a-hoanga (Lady of the Grindstone, personification of the grindstone) was antagonistic to Poutini (personification of greenstone). Poutini belonged to Ngahue, who lived in Hawaiki. Ngahue fled overseas with his “fish,” as the Maoris described greenstone. One version states that he rode on his “fish.” They reached Tuhua Island in the Bay of Plenty, an island which yields the best quantities of obsidian and has given its name to that material. Thence they were driven by the Lady of the Grindstone. Quarrels between Poutini, on the one hand, and Waiapu (a stone used in making adzes) and Mataa (flint) are recorded, and finally Ngahue fled to the west coast of the South Island and hid Poutini in the bed of the Arahura. Ngahue tore off a side of his “fish” and took it back with him to Hawaiki, where it was made into pendants and adzes. The latter were used in hewing out the Arawa canoe. By a number of writers Ngahue has been regarded as an historical character, and New Zealand school-children are taught to regard him as one of the discoverers of New Zealand.
The tales from which the above incidents have been taken are all derived from North Island sources. Very different are the stories current among southern tribes. Mrs Pani Te Tau told the present writer that she was often told by her father, Mr T. Parata, that greenstone was brought to New Zealand by the canoe Te Arai-te-Uru and was deposited on 