Nephrite jade was considered more valuable than gold or silver. Nephrite jade in New Zealand is known as "pounamu" in the Māori language, and is highly valued, playing an important role in Māori culture. It is considered a "taonga", or treasure, and therefore protected under the Treaty of Waitangi. The exploitation of it is restricted to Ngai Tahu and closely monitored. The South Island of New Zealand is "Te Wai Pounamu" in Māori — "The [land of] Greenstone Water" — because that is where it occurs. Weapons and ornaments are made of it; in particular the "mere" (short club), and the
Ornamental Gardens, Ottawa Ornamental Gardens, Ottawa The Ornamental Gardens are located at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. Once used as a test facility for the development of winter hardy roses, weigela and peonies, it now acts as the steward to several large collections of ornamentals. Several notable collections include the Explorer rose collection, the Arthur Percy Saunders peonies and the Isabella Preston lilac series. To provide a proper environment for the many plant collections the Ornamental Gardens has been subdivided into several features. These include the Macoun Memorial garden, the Lilac walk, the Rock garden, the Perennial