Toki Strength & Resilience
Koru Growth, Harmony & Resilience
Hei Matau Protection & Prosperity
Pikorua Unity and Strength
Porowhita Life’s Continuous Cycle
Roimata Strength & Resilience
Manawa Aroha & Connection
Whale's Tail Strength & Guidance
Manaia Protection & Harmony
Niho Strength & Guardianship
Shepherd's Whistle Unity & Leadership
Hei Tiki Past, Present & Future
Breastplate Protection & Wellbeing
The mere is a short, flat, teardrop-shaped club carved in pounamu. More than a weapon, it was a taonga of chiefly prestige, crafted to be both practical and deeply symbolic. To hold a mere was to carry the right to lead, authority grounded in whakapapa, strength, and responsibility.
The Mere is more than stone shaped into form, it is a vessel of values that have carried through centuries. Chiefs held it as a mark of prestige, yet its true weight was not only in pounamu, but in the responsibility it signified. To carry a Mere was to stand for people, to uphold the line of tūpuna, and to act with courage in the face of challenge. These qualities remain central to its meaning today:
Mere pounamu were highly prized, often named and remembered as ancestors in their own right. They were carried into ceremony and daily life, their presence speaking of mana and responsibility. Pounamu was the most treasured stone in Aotearoa, and the mere stood at its highest expression, rare, revered, and handed down as taonga tuku iho.
The Mere is a powerful gift, chosen for moments that carry weight and meaning. It acknowledges responsibility, resilience, and legacy.
Carving a mere has always required patience, strength, and respect. Traditional Māori carvers often worked from river-worn boulders, stone already smoothed by the elements. From there, the blade was slowly ground and polished, revealing a deep green lustre that spoke of mana and prestige.
Some mere were said to take a year or more to complete — their mana growing with every stroke of stone.
A mere is carefully balanced: the blade shaped to be sharp yet light in the hand, the butt carved with grooves or detail for grip, and a hole drilled for its woven cord. Each curve and surface was polished until it reflected both function and beauty, transforming pounamu into a supreme weapon and taonga of honour.
Today, our whānau workshop in Arrowtown continues this tradition with care, blending inherited knowledge with modern tools. Each mere is crafted to embody mana, authority, and ancestral connection.
Durability: Pounamu is strong but can chip if dropped or struck. Handle with care.
Protection: Store separately from hard or abrasive objects.
Wear Often: Daily wear deepens its lustre as the stone absorbs your skin’s natural oils.
Cleaning: Wipe with a soft cloth and mild soap. Occasionally nourish with beeswax or coconut oil. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Water & Cord: The stone is fine in water, but cords age faster in salt or chlorinated water. Rinse with fresh water, dry well, and rebind when needed (our workshop offers traditional rebinding services).
The Mere (pounamu weapon) symbolises mana (prestige), authority, and whakapapa (ancestry). Once carried by rangatira (chiefs), it represents leadership, courage, and the connection to tūpuna (ancestors).
Āe (yes). The mere was a traditional close-combat weapon, flat and teardrop-shaped, designed for swift, precise strikes. Beyond battle, it carried greater meaning as a taonga (treasure) of chiefly status and leadership.
Both are short hand clubs, but there are key differences. A Mere is almost always carved from pounamu (greenstone) and is polished with a flat, teardrop shape, carrying the highest mana and prestige. A Patu can be made from stone, bone, or wood, with a broader blade and often used more widely. The mere was regarded as the supreme form, reserved for rangatira and special occasions.
A Mere pendant suits men, women, and young people. It resonates with those stepping into leadership, marking milestones, or honouring deep whakapapa connections. Many also choose it as a gift of courage, strength, and protection.
Your pendant arrives unblessed, allowing you to follow your own tikanga (custom). A blessing is the personal act of imparting meaning to a taonga. (See guidance below for blessing your pounamu.)
Many people like to offer a simple blessing, especially when the taonga is a gift, while others prefer to begin wearing it straight away and let its meaning grow naturally over time. There’s no single right way. Follow whatever feels respectful and comfortable for you. If you’d like to include a blessing, the suggestions below can help guide the moment.
Whichever path you take, or if you skip a blessing entirely, the pounamu will carry the respect and meaning you give it.
Āe (yes). Pounamu has always been traded as well as gifted. Choosing a piece for yourself is a meaningful act, connecting you with Aotearoa and the values the stone represents.
No two mere pounamu are identical. Each stone holds its own colour, grain, and wairua, chosen to reflect leadership, courage, and whakapapa.
