Mere (weapon)

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A mere (pronounced like "mehreh") is a traditional hand weapon of the Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.

A mere is a short club normally made of a heavy hardwood or stone, such as jade. Mere vary in length but are generally around 30 cm (12 inches) in length. Mere have two almost flat sides and a rounded, sharpened top. A mere pounamu is one of "greenstone" (jade). These were symbols of chieftainship and passed down as valuable heirlooms. Traditionally individual mere are named, and each is said to possess a mana of its own.

In use they were used for stabbing and thrusting rather than for axe-like blows.

[edit] External links

• Mere pounamu in the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
• Image of "Horokiwi"—historic mere which belonged to Te Rira Pōrutu
• Image of "Hine-nui-o-te-paua"—gifted by the Ngāti Pāoa tribe to Governor George Grey as a peace offering in 1851[1]

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