A fantastic Arero Upoko, hand carved from Kawakawa Pounamu, with rich green colour and sharp features adding depth to the piece. The face is confidently formed for awareness, giving it a composed yet expressive presence. A wonderful taonga
Arero(tongue) and Upoko (head) are key anatomical terms for the distinctive carved ends of the taiaha, a traditional Māori long fighting staff, representing the weapon's aggressive, alert nature for striking and defence in close combat, with the upoko often featuring carved faces and the arero a protruding tongue.
Upoko(Head): One end of the taiaha, carved to resemble a head with faces on both sides, symbolizing awareness. Arero (Tongue): A protruding tongue shape at the end of the upoko, used for quick, sharp thrusts and jabs in battle. Alertness & Power: The upoko and arero signify vigilance and aggression, reflecting the weapon's use in ancient Māori martial arts (mau taiaha). Spiritual Symbolism: The tongue (arero) can also symbolize the power of words, capable of both creation and destruction
Taiaha
is a traditional weapon of the Māori of New Zealand; a close-quarters staff weapon made from either wood or whalebone, and used for short, sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with efficient footwork on the part of the wielder. are usually between 5 and 6 feet (1.5 and 1.8 m) in length and often have a pounamu greenstone-tipped blade at one end. It has three main parts; the arero (tongue), used for stabbing the opponent and parrying; the upoko (head), the base from which the tongue protrudes; and the ate (liver) or tinana (body), the long flat blade which is also used for striking and parrying. The Taiaha is a symbol of valour and strength
Kawakawa- is the most common variety of Pounamu. it comes in many shades - from strong, rich green to dark green - and often has small dark flecks, which add to its character. Named after the leaf of the Kawakawa. It is the main type used in gem purposes.
Hand Carved by Aden Hoglund
Dimension 96mm long x 35mm wide x 8mm thick
This will be the exact piece you will receive in the photos. There may be a slight degree of colour variation based on different computer or device screen resolutions that you are viewing from.
