Sidestep: Obsidian is the new black
Obsidian was known to the Maori as Tuhua, the name they also gave to Mayor Island. According to traditional history there were four types of Tuhua. These were:
(a) Tuhua, which is black. This was used by the Moa Hunters for cutting up the Moa.
(b) Waipu, which is of a light colour, used by the people to cut themselves when they were crying for the dead.
(c) Panetao, which is green, and was used for the same purpose as Waipu, but when the dead was a Chief.
(d) Kahurangi, which is red and used when the dead were head Chiefs or Priests.
(e) Panatao, was also used when the dead were children and the same was used to cut human hair.
Mata-Tuhua
The Moa Hunters carried a block of Tuhua with them and chipped off pieces as it was needed because once used it was not used again for any other bird or anything else but left at the spot where used. Other Maori names given to obsidian were: Whaiapu (in the myth) or Waiapu; Mata another name was also used to refer to flint or quartz. Williams in "A Dictionary of the Maori Language" states – Mata:
1) Flint, quartz or obsidian, used for cutting.
2) Matu-Waiapu, a stone found at Waiapu near the East Cape.
3) Mata-Tuhua, obsidian from Mayor Island.
4) Mata-Kautete, saw-like weapon, made of flakes of obsidian or sometimes shark's teeth, fastened to a wooden frame.
Flakes found in the sand hills from the same type as above
Mayor Island
Mayor Island - 1. Black 2. Brown 3.Orange
