1. "Greenstone": This is the most common meaning of Mawhera. It refers to pounamu, the highly prized greenstone found in New Zealand. It's also a reference to the "greenstone" district of Westland, on the South Island, which is known for its pounamu deposits.
2. "The west": Mawhera also refers to the west, often in conjunction with the name of a particular place. For example, "Mawheraiti" means "West of the water".
Therefore, the specific meaning of "Mawhera" depends on the context in which it is used.