One of the main weapons that pre-European Māori used were patu onewa, which were made from basalt, which was a local resource. This was a hand weapon that was used to attack the upper body of an enemy by using a thrusting motion. These weapons were also used to hit the head as a mortal blow to a fallen enemy.

Patu were made from hardwood, whale bone, or stone. The most prestigious material for the patu was pounamu (greenstone). Māori decorated the patu by carving into the wood, bone or stone. Types of patu include: patu pounamu or mere: made from pounamu (greenstone). patu onewa: made of stone. These resemble the mere in outline but thicker ...

This type of short-handled club (patu) features a flat elongated blade with sharp striking edge. The term patu means to strike, hit or subdue in Maori – in this case the blow administered was a sharp, horizontal thrust straight from the shoulder aimed at the enemy’s temple.

One of the principal weapons of M¯aori warriors was the patu, a teardrop-shaped hand club used to strike a thrusting or slicing blow to an enemy. When not in use, patu were often worn suspended from the wrist by a fiber loop or thrust into a belt as symbols of martial prowess.

A patu onewa was any patu made from stone. Patu fashioned from pounamu (greenstone or jade) were highly prized weapons, and were known as mere pounamu. This was also a symbol of authority. The patu paraoa was fashioned from whale bone. The kotiate is a patu named for its shape, which resembled a split human liver (‘koti’ is cut and ‘ate’ is liver).

Patu have an average length of about thirteen inches. They are a double-edged weapon and made of hard volcanic stone Patu Onewa, greenstone Patu pounamu or the jaw bone of a sperm whale Patu Paraoa. At later times they were even made from iron Patu pora.

Hand Club (Patu Onewa), 18th century. Green basalt, 17 x 4 x 1 1/2 in. (43.2 x 10.2 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Frank Sherman Benson Fund and the Henry L. Batterman Fund, 37.2983PA.

Patu is a general term for club, whilst onewa refers to the greywacke or basalt from which the club is made. All varieties of patu are designed to deliver a one-handed jabbing stroke aimed at the lower edge of the ribs, the lower jaw, or the temple, the …

A club (patu onewa) of grey-black stone, oval-shaped, the stepped grip pierced with a suspension hole for a cord. Weapons from Oceania excited considerable interest among antiquarians and collectors during the early nineteenth century.

This article illustrates and describes several examples of Maori culture "short club" fighting weapons known as patu onewa (dark stone) and patu pounamu (greenstone). They are recognized as the best Maori stone-work ever produced.