Story: Te mana o te wāhine – Māori women

Hine-nui-o-te-pāua

Hine-nui-o-te-pāua

This mere pounamu (greenstone club) is known as Hine-nui-o-te-pāua. Te Ngare, the daughter of a Kawerau chief, Kahikatearoa, was married to a Ngāti Pāoa chief to seal peace. As part of the marriage, Ngāti Pāoa gifted the mere to her. Due to an insult Te Ngare left Ngāti Pāoa and returned the mere. Later the tribe gave it to the governor to illustrate their desire for peace.

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How to cite this page:

Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Paul Meredith, 'Te mana o te wāhine – Māori women - Tapu and peacemaking', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/object/31559/hine-nui-o-te-paua (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Paul Meredith, published 5 May 2011, updated 1 Jun 2017