>The Maori picked up on this - jade was a favourite material for war clubs.

Indeed - the nephrite jade found in the South Island was and is highly prized by Maaori - the Maaori name for the South Island is "Te Wai Pounamu" - literally, "The Waters of Greenstone." All rights to mine and sell pounamu have been ceded to Ngai Tahu, the South Island tribe.