whakapapa pounamu
1. (verb) to cause to be like a smooth slab of greenstone, calm, smooth.
Arā anō ngā kōrero mō tētahi taniwha ka whakapapa pounamu i ngā ngaru nui mō te waka o Tainui (Te Ara 2017). / There is another story of a taniwha that calmed the great waves for the canoe of the Tainui people.
Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te kārohirohi i mua i tō huarahi (NP 2001:210). / May the calm be widespread, may the sea lie smooth as a slab of greenstone, may the shimmer of light guide you on your way. (A blessing for travellers.)
