The Green Fish of Ngahue

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa

A children’s book tells an ancient story of pounamu (greenstone/jade) and its presence in the rivers of New Zealand’s South Island. It introduces the culture and meaning of the treasured green stone called pounamu, describing how it has long been carved into ornaments and used for tools and fighting clubs. The narrative includes characters and mythic scenes, including Tutunui the whale, set in Moana-kura with a red setting sun.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages40

Reading Time1 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

The Green Fish of Ngahue

About the author

About the artist

The Green Fish of NgahueRon Bacon and Mary Taylor Doherty https://archive.org/details/greenfishofngahu0000unse # THE GREEN FISH OF NGAHUE There is a strange and lovely green stone which thepeople of the land Aotearoa call pounamu.From it,sincetimes of long ago,they have carved rare and preciousornaments,made staunch tools and fine fighting clubs. There is a story,a story so old that no-one knows whenit was first told,a story that tells how pounamu(now calledgreenstone or jade)came to be in the rivers of the SouthIsland of New Zealand... # The Green Fishof Ngahue Ron BaconMary Taylor Waiatarua PublishingAuckland,New Zealand # About the author For many years a primary school teacher and principal,Ron Baconnow lives in Auckland where he works as a full-time writer,withgardening and rug weaving as occasional recreational diversions.He is author of several successful children's books,including theinnovative The Boy and the Taniwha,illustrated by Para Matchitt,and,more recently,the prize-winning The House of the People andThe Fish of Our Fathers,both illustrated by Robert Jahnke. # About the artist Mary Taylor was born in Auckland,New Zealand.After severalyears as a teacher and part-time artist she decided in 1983 to giveup teaching and concentrate on art.She is familiar with a varietyof mediums,but in recent years print-making has occupied mostof her time.She is a solitary worker,using an isolated bush studionear Auckland's west coast.She exhibits and sells her workthroughout New Zealand,and also overseas. First published 1989Waiatarua Publishing Co.,P.O.Box 35586,Browns Bay,Auckland 10,New Zealand. Text ◎ 1989 R.L.BaconIllustrations 1989 Mary Taylor Typeset by Rennies llustrations Ltd.Printed in Singapore. All rights reserved.No part of this publication may bereproduced or transmitted in any form or by any meanswithout the permission of the publisher. ISBN 0-908670-26-5 Endpaper design.This is an enlargement of a35mm colour photograph of a back-lit slice ofgreenstone provided by Finnegan's Paua andGreenstone Factory,Newton,Auckland. There is a strange and lovely green stonewhich the people of the land Aotearoa call fighting clubs. There is a story,a story so old that no- pounamu.From it,since times of long ago, one knows when it was first told,a story they have carved rare and precious that tells how pounamu came to be in the ornaments,made staunch tools and fine rivers of the south island of Aotearoa... Tutunui the whale,he with the big roundeye,he with the large wide mouth and thegreat flat tail,he lived in the far off seaMoana-kura,which is the sea where the red setting sun goes to rest at the end ofthe day. On the days when Tutunui rose up fromthe deep places of the sea,men shiveredwith fear when they saw him and they said

FAQs

What does the story explain about pounamu (greenstone/jade)?

It describes how pounamu came to be in the rivers of New Zealand’s South Island. The story frames this origin as very old and widely remembered.

How do people use pounamu according to the book text?

The text states that people of Aotearoa carve pounamu into rare and precious ornaments, and also make staunch tools and fine fighting clubs from it.

Who are Ron Bacon and Mary Taylor in the book’s information?

Ron Bacon is the author, described as a former primary school teacher and principal who later became a full-time writer. Mary Taylor is the artist, described as an Auckland-born creator who concentrated on art and print-making.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa