Olympic athletes from New Zealand will receive pendants made from "extremely rare" Tahutahi snowflake pounamu at the Paris games in July and August this year.
More than 550 of the pounamu pendants were handed over to the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Paralympics New Zealand this week by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, who hosted them in their Ōtautahi office this week.
The pounamu were blessed and presented during a pōwhiri where senior leaders gathered from all three organisations.
Ngāti Māhaki carvers from Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio dedicated a year to creating the pieces, which are made from Tahutahi pounamu, or "snowflake jade".
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has never given permission to outside parties for the collection or sale of the distinctive pounamu from this region.
Fayne Robinson and Rānui Ngārimu designed the pendants, while Ngāi Tahu Pounamu carvers Caleb Robinson and Tutoko Wallace handcarved each with help from Ben Lakin from Art Fetiche.
They were bound by Christina Tamayo and Chantal Tumahai from Ngāi Tahu Pounamu.
The pendants will travel to Paris with the Olympic and Paralympic teams, where they will be presented to each athlete and team support member as they are welcomed to the Olympic village.
NZOC Chef de Mission Nigel Avery said the pendants would connect the athletes to home while they competed overseas.
“Presenting team members with a pounamu necklace is a meaningful and significant tradition for the New Zealand Team. It helps to unite and inspire our athletes and lets them carry a little piece of home with them as they compete for Aotearoa New Zealand.”
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa said pounamu is an important taonga Māori.
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