kōwhatu turua
1. (noun) prized volcanic stone - used metaphorically as a tribute to important people.
Pērā anō mō te whakanui i te tangata. Māu tonu e kite iho te rerekētanga o te 'Koia kei a koe!' me te 'E taku purapura tuawhiti, e taku kōwhatu turua...' engari e rua, e rua he whakamihi (HM 2/1994:7). / Likewise for praising someone. You yourself can see the difference between 'Koia kei a koe! (You're awesome!)' and 'E taku purapura tuawhiti, e taku kōwhatu turua... (My special seed, my prized volcanic stone)', but both are tributes.
See also kōhatu turua
Synonyms: kōhatu turua