About Pounamu - New Zealand Greenstone

Pounamu is the New Zealand Maori name for the Greenstone that comes from New Zealand, otherwise known as nephrite jade.

Scientists believe that greenstone was formed millions of years ago through a chemical reaction deep within the earth between neighbouring deposits of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Namely dunite and greywacke. Under pressure, these two rocks literally cooked themselves into greenstone.

During the rising up of the Southern Alps from the Pacific Ocean many millions of years ago, segments of pounamu rose to the surface. And as happens today, greenstone rocks were carried by rivers down to the sea, where they were collected (today only by members of one Maori tribe, Ngai Tahu).

Greenstone has been classified by Maori into several different types, based on their colour. The colour is dependent on the mix of rock that formed the greenstone, and the particles of mostly iron and chromium that can be in it as well. Some of the most common colours are kawakawa, inanga, and kaharangi. Probably the most popular is kawakawa, a gorgeous medium green that is almost luminous when a piece is held up to the light.

Pounamu has a tight crystalline structure which makes it incredibly strong, like steel. This made it ideal for traditional Maori weapons, such as the greenstone mere (club) shown above. Nephrite jade can also be cut, shaped and polished, so it was also highly valued for making into necklaces and earrings, particularly the hei tiki necklace.

Today, New Zealand's greenstone is made into replica Maori weapons, jewellery and ornaments like the items below, all available from Shopenzed.com.

What to buy the New Zealand baby born overseas

It's always a dilemma...what do you buy the New Zealand baby that has been born overseas? You want to send them something special from New Zealand, but sometimes it also needs to be quite lightweight, to save on shipping.

The most iconic New Zealand baby gift is the Buzzy Bee Wooden Toy. It's been the classic New Zealand toy since the 1950s, and many of you will have seen the video of a young Prince William playing with a Buzzy Bee on a royal visit to New Zealand. As you can see from the video, the toy is fun for young babies and for toddlers, with its antennae, clacking sound and bright colours piquing a child's interest.

For the new baby, a gift that could become a family heirloom is the luxurious Merino Possum Wool Blanket. Incredibly soft and lightweight, the Possum Wool fibre is a mix of non-irritating possum fur and ultra-fine merino wool. The combination of fibres gives a yarn greater warmth than wool, and neither fibre will irritate a baby's sensitive skin. Many a baby dribble can simply be flicked off the blanket, as the fur stops the liquid being absorbed into the wool. In fact you will want your own Possum Wool sweater when you see how easy they are to keep clean, and how incredibly warm yet lightweight they are.

To show off that your new grandchild, niece or nephew is at least half Kiwi, there are some lovely onesies to choose from. Some onesies are decorated with Kiwis or Sheep, and other rompers are decorated with an iconic New Zealand phrase "Sweet as".

If you or the parents are ardent All Blacks fans, you'll want to give the new baby the All Blacks Newborn Baby Gift Set, or the All Blacks "Been Inside for 9 Months" Onesie. To go with it, the perfect first book, the "My First All Blacks Board Book", which all the essential first words for a baby to learn, like "goalposts" or "boots"! In our All Blacks Babywear section there are lots more baby and infant clothing items to buy for the new baby or child.

For something warm for baby to lie on, the ultimate is a New Zealand Sheepskin Baby Rug. Ideal for when they lie on their backs, playing with floor mobiles. The sheepskin rug can also lie under them in the stroller, keeping their backs nice and warm.

Babies love to play with soft toys, and we have lots of Kiwi and Lamb Soft Toys that are gorgeous, incredibly soft and cuddly. As they get older, they may also like the Native Bird Toys, all with authentic recorded sound.

Out in the car, an essential item is the "Kiwi Baby on Board" Road Sign to hang in the back window of your vehicle.

To remember just how tiny and miraculous the newborn was, get the Seedling Baby Handprint in a Tin Kit. Everything you need to make a replica of your tiny baby's hand or foot. For the wall, the My Kids Aroha Sign will remind you and your kids of how special they are, and the power of Aroha (love).

For the Maori baby, we hope the parents already had the "Choosing a Maori Name for your Baby" Book. If not, the book could be good for naming future mokopuna. The ultimate gift for baby is the Maori feathered korowai, suitable for babies and young children. And on their 1st birthday, we have the 1st Birthday Key. Also for the Maori child, Maori Dolls. And for kapa haka performances from the 2-year-old ( and older kids) we have Kapa Haka Costumes for both boys and girls. These costumes are often needed at overseas schools, for their Nations Day.

Merino Wool T-shirt

At this time of year, when we are between seasons, and a day can go from cold to hot, fine Merino Wool T-shirts really come into their own.

Breathable natural merino wool regulates your body temperature, making it suitable for a range of climate conditions. You won't feel chilled or clammy when you wear a merino wool t-shirt, because you won't get too hot or too cold.

You won't feel itchy either, because fine merino wool does not irritate the skin. It feels like you are wearing silk against the skin - lovely and smooth.

The special properties of fine merino wool ensure the fabric does not retain odours, making this shirt ideal for those who perspire heavily or those who need the shirt to go from daywear to eveningwear. Fine merino wool also provides a high level of sun protection , is water repellent, and fire resistant.

Perhaps best of all, fine merino wool t-shirts are machine washable and resistant to creasing, making them very easy care garment and ideal for travelling or for anyone averse to ironing.


This stylish zip-neck Mens Fine Merino Wool Long-Sleeve Shirt will be a joy to wear. The natural fine merino wool is silky smooth to the touch, lightweight to wear, and does not make you itch.

The fabulous print on the sleeve of this merino shirt is a Maori tattoo design, reminding you of where your shirt came from, and taking the shirt from functional to stylish.

All Shopenzed.com purchases are backed by our 365-day money back guarantee.

Podee Hands-Free Baby Feeding Bottle

The Podee Hands-Free Baby Bottle is a product I can give you in-depth info on - because we used them ourselves, right here in New Zealand!

Podee bottles were a godsend when I had triplets in 1997, and now the Podee bottles are further improved - they are BPA-free, PVC-free, and lead-free.

Best of all, our Podee bottles come with a special Shopenzed.com guarantee - if baby doesn't like them, we will take them back. Read on for more details.

Why hands-free?

1. Baby can be fed in an upright position - Lessens the risk of ear infections
2. No need for dangerous propping
3. Liquid drawn from bottom of bottle - Limits the baby's air intake, reducing wind problems, helps prevent colic
4. Crosscut teat closes off after each suck - No mess
5. Baby only gets as much milk as it wants - lessens the risk of overfeeding
6. Baby and bottle can be held in one hand - Parent has a hand free to eat, play with another child, answer the phone
7. Baby can drink while sitting in baby carrier or carseat - Parents can get on with other tasks or push the stroller, while baby feeds (NB: Babies should never be left unattended whilst feeding)
8. Great for disabled parents
9. Multiples can be fed at the same time - Saves parents the anxiety of rushing the feeding of one child so they can feed the next hungry, crying baby...stressed parents and babies are not a good combination
10. Comes with a tube cleaning brush - Easy to clean all parts
11. Adapts to a toddler bottle that baby can hold against chest - Prevents neck strain, much easier for baby
12. Podee feeding mimics breastfeeding - Babies must suck to get the milk, as the teat closes off after each suck. We've found Podee bottles ideal for mums having problems weaning baby onto a bottle.

IMPORTANT!
This product is in no way meant to encourage women to stop breastfeeding. Rather, it is for the parent who needs a helping hand...commonly, parents of multiples, or parents with a new baby plus a demanding toddler or disabled child. It is also a convenience item for a parent who travels often with a baby, or who enjoys shopping or walking and likes not having to stop somewhere when baby wants a bottle. Or to have on hand for those times when dinner preparation or some other job coincides with feeding time. Baby can happily feed while sitting near mum or dad.

Our experience with Podee Bottles
I had triplet girls in 1997. I was never able to create enough breastmilk for three babies, but did manage to breastfeed one baby per feeding time. Whilst my husband was at home for the first couple of weeks helping me, we managed to feed all the babies between us. Fast forward a few weeks, and I was rushed to hospital for an emergency operation. Hubby was left home with 3 tiny babies....and luckily, 3 Podee bottles. He set the girls up in their carseats, gave them their Podee bottles...and sighed with relief.

Podee bottles were such a god-send for us, for a number of reasons. First of all, I can't stand hearing babies cry. With the Podee bottles, I could sit with the girls whilst they all fed, instead of feeding one baby whilst the other two screamed for milk. I am not a fan of propping bottles, that just seems too risky to me. And there was NO STRESS! No racing thru feeding one baby to get on to the next. This way I could cuddle a couple of babies on my lap, or just sit with them all until they finished, and have lots of time left over for cuddles afterwards.

Secondly, the girls fed at their own rate. That was a real eye-opener for me! With regular bottles one tends to start off with a full bottle and try to get baby to take all the milk. Bad idea, with the benefit of hindsight. With the Podee bottles, the girls fed in a no-rush manner, as they were in control. Sometimes one might only drink half a bottle, which initially worried me. But then she'd make up for it at the next feed, and I'd realise she knew exactly how much she needed.

I could take the girls out in their stroller or in the car, and they could drink whilst I drove or walked. I was feeding them every 3 1/2 hours, and as you can imagine, if I'd been feeding them individually, by the time I was finished the last baby it was almost time to start feeding the first again! Podee bottles gave me FREEDOM! And no thrown bottles in the car, either. I could tuck the bottle in beside the baby, and they would happily drink until finished. Then they would push the teat out with their tongue, or when older, pull the teat out with their hand. And there is no mess, as the cross-cut teat closes off after each suck.

Another big bonus - no wind! After a short time using the Podee bottles, I no longer needed to burp the babies during their feed. Because they took in very little air, they would do their own burp shortly after they had fed!

We have happy, well-adjusted, healthy triplet children. They have not suffered through not being held at every feeding, they just got their cuddles afterwards, when we could concentrate on loving and not the feeding. And we all had a far less stressful time together during their infancy.

People we've Helped
Over the years we've helped many mothers of multiples regain their sanity. Some mothers of multiples have husbands on the road for long periods of time, and no other support. Some can't supply enough milk for two babies.

We've helped a really sickly baby suffering from Failure to Thrive. This wee tot would not take a breast or a bottle. But he would take a Podee teat. Mum tucked his bottle into the back of his overalls, and he would happily feed whenever he wanted. ( Please note: under normal circumstances you want your baby to feed and finish, not "graze" over a long period of time, as constant feeding is not good for their baby teeth. We found that our babies had no interest in spending a long time feeding, and we put that down to their ability to calmly feed and get it over with, but at their own pace).

We've helped Mums in wheelchairs, Mums with little feeling or strength in their arms. They didn't need to hold their baby, but they could be right there alongside them while they fed.

OUR GUARANTEE
There's been the occasional baby that just doesn't seem to like the Podee bottle. It's extremely rare, but can happen. Usually it's because they have been on a regular bottle too long, the type where the teat will just drip, drip, drip milk into their mouth, and they don't have to suck hard to get the milk. It doesn't happen often, and we do encourage you to keep trying the Podee bottle even if this happens. Try giving baby the Podee bottle when you are out in the stroller, as sometimes they just need distraction whilst drinking from it.

But if you just can't get Junior to feed from the Podee bottle we will happily take the Podee bottle back ( please return all the bits, including the cleaning brush) and refund you the purchase price ( excluding shipping). Please email us if you need to do this, so we know it is on its way.

IMPORTANT - CLEANING AND ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Please click here for Podee Bottle assembly and cleaning instructions.

About Nemidon Hydrating Gels

Nemidon Hydrating Gels are based on the amazing water-attracting ability of seaweed. The Gels are created in New Zealand and contain natural ingredients.

How Nemidon Gels work
Picture a honeycomb - that's kind of like the structure of the Gel. Except that water can diffuse through the walls of the honeycomb, and the walls of the honeycomb draw water to their driest side.

So imagine that honeycomb is laid on your dry, cracked skin. The honeycomb is going to draw moisture from the air, through the honeycomb and onto your skin, because your skin is drier than the air.

What about if you need extra hydration?
Within the holes of the honeycomb other ingredients can be added that are beneficial to the skin. Like moisturisers good for dry, cracked skin, and oils good for muscle pain. These ingredients are dispersed in water within the honeycomb, and are delivered through water flow into your skin.

What if I perspire?
The same principle applies. More moisture on your skin than in the air means that the perspiration diffuses back through the honeycomb. The really great thing is that because it diffuses through the honeycomb, it doesn't take the honeycomb with it. So Nemidon Gels stay on your skin, healing and hydrating, even while you perspire. They aren's sloughed off by perspiration.

What does it feel like on my skin?
When you apply Nemidon Gels, it just feels like it has been absorbed into your skin. But what is actually happening is a thin film of gel is sitting, imperceptibly, on top of your skin. Doing its thing. Non-greasy, not tacky, you won't know it's there.

About Nemidon Ultrahydration Gel
Nemidon Ultrahydration Gel is ideal for people with very dry skin. As mentioned above, the Nemidon Gel traps a layer of moisture against the skin, allowing moisture to be drawn in from the surrounding air and allowing perspiration to escape. The Gel prevents loss of water from the skin when the air is dry.

Water will pass rapidly from the gel to the skin, until the skin has reached its optimum moisture level. Once optimum skin condition is reached, usually within 10 days, a maintenance application is only needed once every 2 days. The end result is more supple skin, less likely to crack. The Gel is long lasting, non-greasy, and has no alcohol and no smell. Application is initially required twice a day.

Nemidon All Black n Blue Gel
In the case of All Black n Blue, the seaweed gel also contains nature's botanicals and essential oils renowned for their relief of muscle inflammation, aches and pains. You've got the seaweed "honeycomb" allowing moisture in and perspiration out, and within the honeycomb is stored the oils, allowing them to be absorbed into the skin.

All Black n Blue is non-greasy, and adhesive strapping can be applied immediately after application.

All Black n Blue is ideal to use with RICE treatment, for the temporary relief of muscle inflammation and aches and pains, for temporary relief of arthritis pain, and to use after exercise to help relieve stiffness in muscles and joints.

Nemidon Foot Care & Deodorant
Nemidon Foot Care is ideal for people suffering from dry, cracked or itchy skin on their feet, and for people with diabetes.

The Footcare Gel hydrates the feet without any sticky residue left on the skin, and without the need to apply straight after showering. You can apply Nemidon Footcare Gel at any time during the day.

Supple skin on the feet is very important for those with diabetes. If skin on the feet cracks, infection can easily set in, especially those suffering from diabetes. The Nemidon Gel provides a thin moisture layer to the skin, allowing moisture in and perspiration out. It doesn't block the pores of the skin.

Nemidon Footcare Gel also contains Tea Tree and Lavender Oils, working against any possible mild bacterial or fungal infections.

Where can I buy Nemidon Gels?
You can buy Nemidon Gels online at www.shopenzed.com. With a 365-day money back guarantee, you can't go wrong!

Hei Matau Necklaces for sale

Hei Matau Fish Hook Necklace
Hei Matau is the New Zealand Maori name for the Fish Hook Necklace. The Maori Fish Hook is a popular design and is suitable for both men and women to wear.

The importance of the Hei Matau
Fish Hooks were very important to Maori. Fish was and still is an important food source, and early fish hooks were usually carved from bone. That bone came from birds such as the albatross, dogs, or whales.

The Hei Matau in Maori Mythology
The Fish Hook is also symbolic of New Zealand in Maori Mythology, as the Maori demi-god used his magic fish hook to fish up New Zealand. The North Island of New Zealand is Te Ika a Maui, the fish of Maui, and the South Island is known as Te Waka a Maui, the boat (waka) of Maui. Stewart Island is Te Punga a Maui, the anchor of the boat.

Hei Matau Meaning
Maori designs carry a spiritual meaning. In the case of the Hei Matau Fish Hook, the design signifies abundance and plenty, strength and determination. The Hei Matau is believed to bring peace, prosperity, and good health. The Fish Hook is also a device for catching good luck and positive energy, and is a good luck charm for safe journey over water.

So the Hei Matau is a powerful and positive talisman.

Hei Matau Necklaces for sale
At www.shopenzed.com we have a huge range of Hei Matau for sale. Hei Matau shopping is lots of fun because you can choose from a range of materials and prices, as well as varying sizes. You are sure to find a Maori Fish Hook to suit you or a loved one. Choose Hei Matau Necklaces made from Bone, Greenstone, Paua, Metal, Sterling Silver, Red Agate and Pewter.

Maori Bone Fish Hook Necklaces

As you can see from the photo above, Maori Bone Fish Hook Necklaces can be decorated a number of ways. The basic Hei Matau shape stays the same, but there can be carving, scrimshaw, dyeing, staining, and the addition of materials like New Zealand Paua Shell.

Greenstone Jade Hei Matau

New Zealand Greenstone Jade Hei Matau are usually quite simple in shape. New Zealand Greenstone (Maori name Pounamu) is a very hard stone, so carving designs into it is much more difficult than with bone. We have a great selection of jade fish hooks on offer though, and of varying sizes. In New Zealand we tend to wear large pieces of greenstone, whereas people in other countries often like smaller jade necklaces. We cater to all tastes, and if we don't have what you want, just ask.

Paua Shell Hei Matau Necklaces

New Zealand Paua Shell looks beautiful on its own, and when made into a Hei Matau Necklace. Paua (abalone) shell contains natural, irridescent shades of blue, green, pink and purple, and is a stunning natural beauty.

You can shop for Paua Fish Hooks, as well as Paua and Sterling Silver Hei Matau, and Paua and Metal Hei Matau Fish Hooks.

Red Agate Hei Matau

Whilst Red Agate isn't a traditional stone used by Maori, its beautiful blood red colour lends itself perfectly to the Maori Hei Matau design.

Pewter Hei Matau Necklaces

Pewter lends itself to Maori carving, and we have several Pewter Maori Hei Matau Necklaces for you to choose from.

Black Jade Hei Matau Neckace

Black Jade, found in Australia, can be shined to a high lustre. It looks striking when made into a Hei Matau Fish Hook.

How to tie a Maori Necklace
Maori Hei Matau Necklaces are often supplied on a traditional black cord, and many do not have a loop and toggle or other form of tying. The good thing about this is that you can tie the Necklace with a sliding adjustable knot, as we do here in New Zealand. This makes the necklace easy to put on over the head, and its cord can be adjusted so the fish hook sits exactly where you want it around the neck.

We have instructions below on how to tie a Maori necklace, and you can also go back to our website for the same instructions on how to make the sliding adjustable knot.

Maori Koru

The Maori Koru is one of the five most popular New Zealand Maori carvings, with each carving having a spiritual significance. The other most popular designs are the Hei Matau (hook), Hei Tiki, Manaia (guardian), and the Pikorua (twist).

The Koru Design
Koru is the Maori word for the unfurling native fern. The fern frond starts off as a tight curl, which gradually unfurls. That curl is what the Koru design is named after. The NZ Koru design can be seen in Maori carvings, art, necklaces, pendants, as well as ornaments like the ones pictured above.

Maori Bone Koru Necklace

The Koru is often worn around the neck as a Hei Koru, or Koru necklace. When made from Cow Bone, the Koru can be intricately carved, and/or be stained or have New Zealand Paua Shell ( abalone) added to make it even more beautiful.

As you can see above, the Maori Koru Necklace can take many forms. It may be round, oval, open or closed, and it may be a single, double or even triple koru.

The Koru design can also look like waves, making the Koru Necklace very popular with surfers.

Above you can see Koru Necklaces that have been handmade by Maori carvers in New Zealand.

The meaning of the Koru Design
The Koru design represents peace, tranquility, personal growth, positive change and awakening, new life, and harmony. So it makes a great gift for so many reasons. Give to a new mother to mark the arrival of her baby. Give to a friend who is turning their life around. Give to yourself to remind you of its positive qualities.

Greenstone Koru

Greenstone is the beautiful Nephrite Jade found on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Greenstone is called Pounamu in Maori. The resource is strictly conserved by the local Maori.

There are a few different types of Greenstone, with Kawa Kawa being the main type made into necklaces and earrings.

Greenstone is a very hard stone, so carvings are generally not as intricate as bone. But they are no less beautiful, for a skilled carver can bring out the innate beauty of greenstone. Hold a piece up to the light and it becomes almost transparent, with gorgeous green flecks showing up brightly.

Maori hold greenstone in high esteem, and items like Maori Hei Tiki necklaces are handed down from one generation to the next. The necklace, having been worn next to the skin, is believed to take on the spirit of the wearer. Hence the owner's spirit is handed on the the next generation.

Paua Shell Koru Necklace

New Zealand Paua (Abalone) Shell is one of the most beautiful shells in the world. Its irridescent shades of blue, green, purple and pink are an amazing piece of natural beauty.

Traditionally, Paua shell was used to decorate Maori wood carving, in particular being used to make the eyes of the Tekoteko or Tiki. Nowadays, Paua Shell is also used to decorate Bone and Greenstone Necklaces, and it is used alone, as in the photo above.

Other Maori Koru Necklaces

Other materials used to make Koru Necklaces or Pendants include resin, pewter, black jade, and other metals.

In the photo above, a Koru design has been scrimshawed onto a flat Bone Necklace; the middle pendant is made from metal and paua, and the right hand pendant is made from Pewter. All can be purchased from http://www.shopenzed.com