Image
This ear pendant is known as a kuru. When made of pounamu they were highly prized and often worn by people of chiefly status. Often a kuru pounamu would be used in oratory to refer to a deceased person held in great affection – ‘Taku kuru pounamu ka makere’ (my kuru pounamu that has fallen).
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.