New Zealand is made up of two main islands. In English, these islands are known as the North and South Islands but in Maori, they are referred to as Te Ika a Maui and Te Wai Pounamu respectfully. Te Ika a Maui or "the fish of Maui", refers to the fish like shape of the northern island. This name comes from a Maori legend about how the god Maui hauled the island up from the sea while fishing. Te Wai Pounamu means "place of greenstone" and refers to the island's outcrops of jade. The greenstone of the island is one of the hardest substances on earth and was used by the Maori to craft weapons and jewelery. You can still find many beautiful greenstone carvings throughout New Zealand. We spent the first 11 days of our trip on Te Ika a Maui but today we took a ferry to Te Wai Pounamu. In addition to the beautiful greenstone, Te Wai Pounamu is known for its stunning mountains, commonly referred to as the Southern Alps. As we traveled southward, we could just make out the majestic outline of the snowcapped mountains.
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