Pounamu
![Pounamu pendant.](/Images/godic/202502/04/Pounamu_pendant3703.jpg")
![From space, the west coast of New Zealand resembles the greenstone after which it is named.](/Images/godic/202502/04/The_Greenstone_Waters,_New_Zealand3703.jpg")
Pounamu refers to several types of hard, durable and highly valued nephrite jade, bowenite, or serpentinite stone found in southern New Zealand. Pounamu is the Māori name. These rocks are also generically known as "greenstone" in New Zealand English.