Kapua Whakarito (Budding Cloud)

Māori hand clubs, called patu, are typically carried in a warrior's flax belt. They were used for close hand-to-hand combat and wielded with a series of thrusting and cutting strokes. They are made from a range of materials, including whalebone and wood. Patu made from New Zealand nephrite, like this one, are known as mere pounamu. They are treasured heirlooms, passed down by successive chiefs and inheriting their mana or authority. This example has particular significance: having been used to fight the British during the New Zealand Wars (1845–72), it was sent to Queen Elizabeth II by Chief Paora Rerepu Te Urupu as a symbol of reconciliation in 1964.