Warrior Kapene design story

To celebrate 50 years of dedication to making darts we wanted to create something special for our global tribe of players. The Warrior Kapene showcases where Shot has come from and embodies the spirit of where we’re going – a nod to our past and future.

Kapene translates as Captain in Te Reo Māori – a tribal leader to guide us into the next 50 years. This dart is inspired by our home, and honours the warrior within. We commissioned Tauranga Carver Whare Thompson of Ngati Whatua and Ngapuhi descent to design a sleeve ‘Ta Moko’ tattoo that wraps around and runs along the length of the barrel and is echoed in the flight. Whare is pictured above with the final product.

Kapene pays homage to Tawhirimatea, the wind god. It’s embellished with Whare's design, a Takarangi (double spiral) pattern entwined with Celtic knots – to represent the physical and spiritual worlds and the multi-cultural diversity of our darts community. The Koru (curled fern) represents the growth of this community for the future generations that follow.

This new Warrior dart is a celebration of our place in Aotearoa New Zealand and our connection to the land, our culture and our tribe.

Find out more about Whare Thompson, Master Carver.