Ruaumoko

This was made by a colleague at work to be presented as an award.

In Maori mythology Ruaumoko is the god of volcanoes and seasons. It is his movements that are, according to the legends, the cause of earthquakes.

The item is a patu, a hand club, this one carved out of wood but traditionally bone or pounamu (greenstone, New Zealand jade) were also used, if carved of pounamu it is usually called a mere.

These were treasured heirlooms, passed from generation to generation and usually only Chiefs of high standing possessed them. They were lethal in the hands of a competent warrior, and a Chief would rather be killed by his own Mere, than lose his life to anothers in times of capture.

Nowadays the mere/patu symbolises the facing and overcoming of life's challenges and difficulties

ps. I have back blipped the past few days that I was away if anyone is interested....