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    Meaning & Culture

    Pekapeka Meaning: The Bat Design in Pounamu

    5 min read

    The pekapeka is a traditional Māori pendant named after the native bat. It is usually carved as two heads facing outward from a single body, and is commonly described as a symbol of spiritual protection, guardianship and balance.

    Less common than the koru or toki, the pekapeka is still a long-established form: historic pekapeka pendants carved centuries ago are held in Te Papa's collection. It is closely related to the manaia, and many carvers treat it as a member of the same family of designs.

    Pekapeka pendant carved in green stone, a traditional Māori design named after the native bat

    This guide covers the bat behind the name, what the design is said to mean, how it is carved, and what to look for if you are choosing one.

    Quick Takeaways
    Named after New Zealand's native bat Usually carved with two outward-facing heads Commonly linked to protection, guardianship and balance A traditional form, closely related to the manaia

    The Bat Behind the Name

    Pekapeka is the Māori name for bats. Bats are New Zealand's only native land mammals, and two species survive today: the long-tailed bat and the lesser short-tailed bat. Both are found only in New Zealand, and both are among the country's most threatened native species.

    The long-tailed bat is small, fast and mostly seen at dusk along forest edges, where it hunts insects on the wing. Because bats are rarely seen and come out as daylight fades, they have long been linked with night, the edges of the day and things that are hard to see.

    What Does the Pekapeka Mean?

    The pekapeka design is most commonly described as a symbol of spiritual protection and guardianship. The two heads, facing in opposite directions from one body, are often read as balance, or as watching over the wearer from both sides.

    Some carvers also connect the pekapeka with the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds, an idea it shares with the manaia, which is often described as a messenger between the two. Others link bats more broadly with night and with death. These readings vary between carvers and iwi, and no single meaning is accepted by everyone.

    As with all pounamu designs, many people feel that the intention behind a piece, and the relationship between giver and wearer, matter as much as the form itself.

    Koru pendant carved in green stone with a spiral form
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    A Traditional Form, Not a Modern One

    Although it is less familiar to most buyers than the koru or hei matau, the pekapeka has a long history. Te Papa holds a pounamu pekapeka pendant dated to between 1600 and 1850, alongside other historic examples carved from different stones.

    Traditional pekapeka are stylised rather than realistic. Instead of outstretched wings, they typically show two heads, often bird-like and similar to manaia heads, joined by a curved body. Some modern carvers lean more towards the shape of a bat, while others keep closely to the traditional twin-headed form.

    Two outward-facing heads Single curved body Manaia-style features Eyes sometimes inlaid with pāua

    Related designs include the double manaia and the marakihau, both of which also draw on figures that cross between worlds.

    Choosing a Pounamu Pekapeka

    Because the form relies on a clean, balanced outline, look for a piece where both heads are clearly defined and the body has an even curve. Darker varieties such as kawakawa are a popular choice and suit the design's association with night, though any stone you are drawn to is a valid choice. Our guide to types of pounamu explains the main varieties.

    Pekapeka are carved less often than the most popular designs, so it can help to ask a carver directly, or have one made. Before buying, it is worth reading how to choose a pounamu pendant and how to tell if pounamu is real.

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    Other Pounamu Designs

    Explore the meanings behind other traditional forms:

    Manaia Double Manaia Kōauau Marakihau Hei Tiki Koru All designs
    Common Questions

    Frequently Asked Questions about the Pekapeka

    The pekapeka is a traditional Māori design named after the native bat. It is commonly described as a symbol of spiritual protection and guardianship, with its two heads often read as balance. Meanings can vary between carvers and iwi.

    Most traditional pekapeka pendants show two heads facing outward from one body. This is a stylised form rather than a realistic bat, and it is often linked to the manaia. The twin heads are commonly interpreted as balance and as watching over the wearer from both sides.

    It is less common than designs like the koru, toki or hei matau, but it is not new. Te Papa holds pekapeka pendants carved from pounamu and other stone that date back several centuries, so it is a long-established traditional form.

    Often, yes. Many pekapeka pendants share features with the manaia, such as bird-like heads, and some carvers class the pekapeka as a form of manaia. See our manaia guide for more on that design.

    A pekapeka can suit someone you want to wish protection, balance or a safe path through change, or someone with a strong connection to New Zealand's native wildlife. As with any pounamu gift, the thought and intention behind it matter most. Our gifting pounamu guide covers the traditions around giving.

    The pekapeka is a Māori design, and the bats it is named after are found only in New Zealand. Carved figures and bird-like forms appear across Polynesia, but the pekapeka pendant as a named form belongs to Māori carving.