The sacred greenstone symbolises peace and this is the theme of an important conference focussing on the application of traditional Maori concepts into mainstream society.
Around 300 people are expected to pass around the kete of knowledge when the University of Auckland's Traditional Knowledge Conference takes place in June.
Organiser and Maori academic, Dr Joseph Te Rito (pictured), believes that in some ways, Maori tradition is weakening.
"It is inevitably becoming more watered down as time progresses," he says. He sees its age-old philosophies becoming prominent in mainstream with some concepts such as kaitiakitanga or guardianship being used with land, fifififi sheries and other resources, as per the Resource Management Act.
On the other hand, he believes the conference is a way of sharing traditional knowledge through the collaboration of like-minded people.
Maori Party co-leader, Dr Pita Sharples, and lawyer Moana Jackson, will be among the many speakers who will be discussing the way Maori values can help sustain relationships in New Zealand. Both have applied Maori models to restorative justice and their concepts are now used here and internationally.
This year's theme Te Tatau Pounamu: The Greenstone Door, relates to the aim of the event, which is to use Maori values for peace making, including reconciliation and conflfl ict resolution. The greenstone is representative of peace established by the exchange of pounamu in a political marriage. The greenstone is seen as being durable, strong and highly valuable.
The event, which happens every four years, has proved successful, attracting a range of people who hope to collaborate and network, from community groups to kaumatua. The participants are expected to hear from international speakers from such places as Hawaii, Tonga and South India at the four-day conference.
