The New Zealand Olympic Committee and Paralympics New Zealand have been given over 480 pounamu taonga by tribal authority Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu during a ceremony in Christchurch ©NZ Olympic Team/Facebook

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and Paralympics New Zealand have been given over 480 pounamu taonga by tribal authority Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu during a ceremony in Christchurch.

Ngāi Tahu is the principal Māori tribe of the southern region of New Zealand with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu based in Christchurch and Invercargill. 

New Zealand Olympic Team Chef de Mission Rob Waddell and Paralympic counterpart Ben Lucas flew to Christchurch and received the pounamu on behalf of their teams.

Tā Mark Solomon, the head of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, says the pendants will "connect our athletes to home while they are competing overseas". 

Waddell, a triple Olympian in rowing and Sydney 2000 gold medallist in the single sculls, said he was honoured to receive the taonga on behalf of the team bound for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"The pounamu pendants are an incredibly important part of our unique New Zealand team culture," he said.

"They connect us to each other and to where we come from.

"They instil a real sense of identity and pride in all of us, and we know wearing the pendants plays a role in enhancing athletes' performance at the Olympic Games."

The NZOC and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu also signed a Memorandum of Understanding
The NZOC and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu also signed a Memorandum of Understanding ©NZOC

Lucas added: "It is with great pride and gratitude that I accept the beautiful pounamu taonga on behalf of the New Zealand Paralympic Team.

"The pounamu necklaces will connect the Paralympic team with all Kiwi’s at home in New Zealand and with each other as a team.

"Each unique and individually carved piece will be hugely significant to each Paralympic team member and they will wear them with pride as they compete against the best in the world in Rio this September."

Lisa Tumahai, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu's deputy kaiwhakahaere and representative of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae - the council based a short distance from the township of Hokitika in Arahura - said the taonga carved by Waewae Pounamu are personalised for each athlete.

The NZOC and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu also signed a Memorandum of Understanding in a bid to formalise the importance of their relationship.

"By formalising our relationship with Ngai Tahu we can ensure that we continue to include and represent Māori culture within our team in a respectful and meaningful way," said NZOC President Mike Stanley.