No, it is fiction.
Witi Ihimaera.
Pounamu from New Zealand is known as greenstones.
Pounamu are found in New Zealand. New Zealand is made up of two islands, the north and the south. Pounamu, or actually Te Wai Pounamu, is 'The South Island'. Green stones, also known as Jade, are found in New Zealand. The natives (Maori) people carved jade into weapons and necklaces called pounamu. The maori believed-and some still do-that Pounamu protects you from evil spirits, the more clear and pure (lighter) the pounamu (Jade stone) is, the more it will protect you.
pounamu and ranges in colour from a rich vivid green to a much darker shade
Pounamu was highly prized by Maori for its hardness, its beauty and its spiritual significance.
green
'Pounamu', is known as a greenstone or green jade. You know, the jewelery New Zealanders wear
Pounamu comes in a variety of types and colours. One type is called 'Kahurangi' and is a highly translucent lightish green with lighter streaks.
Pounamu
You could say either Pounamu or Taonga.
Greenstone or jade