Maori Works of Art in the Royal Collection
Indigenous materials and techniques from New Zealand
'Kapua Whakarito' (Budding Cloud)
RCIN 37065
Patu are Maori hand clubs, 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 can be found in 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.