Hand Club

A mere pounamu (greenstone hand club) made from kahurangi (a type of greenstone). Paddle-shaped, four grooves on handle end; drilled for wrist cord (tau).

A mere pounamu is a highly valued one-handed weapon. Featuring a sharp, striking edge, mere were used for cutting and stabbing rather than hitting, as when blocked by another weapon, they could break. As the creation of a mere would be a long process, and mere were highly treasured, care was taken to avoid breaking one. Originally used in hand-to-hand combat, mere pounamu were both practical weapons as well as symbols of chieftainship. Passed down through generations, they were often given names and were thought to have their own mana (status/power).

According to the collector, Leonard M. Bisk, the mere pounamu is named Kinohaka ("evil dance").