One of the most powerful amulets of the New Zealand Maori tribe is the koru. The spiral is a twisted, unopened fern leaf. This is a symbol of the beginning of a new life. The natives believe that if a person carves a symbol on a wooden object or makes a tattoo with it, then the bearer of the sacred sign will face rebirth, awakening, personal growth, hope, purity, the onset of a new stage in life, the spirit of change, harmony, and tranquility.