White Monkeyfist Poi Earrings – Handcrafted Māori-Inspired Jewellery

Poi have been part of te ao Māori for generations, each carried with purpose. Tāne used poi as a martial training tool — building wrist strength, flexibility, and reflexes for hand-to-hand combat and the handling of short weapons like the patu and mere. Wāhine used poi for performance and storytelling, and to keep their hands agile for the intricate art of traditional weaving. Two paths, one taonga.

The monkeyfist is a traditional sailor’s knot — tied as a weighted ball at the end of a rope to give it momentum and reach. That same principle lives at the heart of poi: a weighted head that flows, swings, and carries energy through motion. It’s no coincidence that contemporary fire poi are most commonly made using monkeyfist knots — tightly hand-tied to create a dense, even ball that holds fuel and burns with control. Two traditions, separated by oceans, united by the same elegant solution.

These earrings bring that connection to life. Each one features a hand-tied white monkeyfist knot — a miniature version of the very form used in fire poi — handcrafted in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Hand-tied monkeyfist knot design in white
• Lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear
• Strung on waxed cord — chosen over wool for its resistance to body oils and durability in wet weather
• Handcrafted in New Zealand by Māori Ora
• A meaningful taonga and conversation piece