Maori Taonga: Carved Weapons

All pieces in this collection are carved in Black Maire, carved on both sides and Genuine carvings

Taiaha

• a long-handled weapon, used for striking and stabbing in hand-to-hand close quarter combat
• Upoko: The carved head at one end, with a face on each side, symbolizing alertness and vigilance
• Arero: A carved, protruding tongue that extends from the upoko, used for stabbing and parrying
• Tinana: The main body or shaft of the weapon, which is the grip
• Rau: The flat, smooth striking blade at the opposite end of the upoko
• size: 1.6m x 7cm x 6cm

Patu

• a hand club used with swift and powerful strikes in close-quarters combat
• designed to strike the shoulder to dislocate it, allowing for a fatal blow to the head
• Patu meaning to strike or hit
• size: 44cm x 14cm x 4cm

Pouwhenua

• a long heavy fighting staff with a pointed end and a broad flared blade at the other
• a lethal weapon designed for stabbing, parrying, and striking
• Pouwhenua symbolizes a fighting spirit, defense, authority, and prestige = mana
• size: 1.74m x 13cm x 4cm

Tewhatewha

• a long-handled two-handed fighting staff with a blade-like head and a pointed end, used in battle for striking, poking, and signaling
• the striking part of the tewhatewha is the broad quarter-round head (rapa), while the pointed end is called the mata
• the lower part of the rapa (blade) was used for striking the head, while the mata (point) could be used to poke the body
• the feathers below the Upoko were used to signal to followers, much like a flag, or to confuse opponents
• the design of some tewhatewha symbolizes communication, with two faces often depicted talking to each other
• considered a chiefly weapon often wielded by leaders
• size: 1.39m x 19cm x 4cm

This collection is a Whanau and cannot be separated, kia ora.

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