Taiaha
A Māori two-handed weapon of wood or whalebone, 1.5-1.8 m long, with a head bearing a tongue (arero) for thrusting and a flat blade (rau) for striking.
Quick Facts
New ZealandAbout the weapon
Taiaha is a traditional weapon of the Māori of New Zealand for close combat. A fighter used it to deliver short sharp strikes and thrusting attacks, relying on agile footwork. It is made of wood or whalebone and measures 1.5 to 1.8 m. It has three main parts: the head, upoko, with a tongue, arero, which serves for thrusting and parrying, the rounded shaft, ate or tinana, by which it is held, and a flat striking blade, rau. The martial art mau rākau works with the taiaha and other Māori weapons, placing emphasis on timing, balance and coordination; mastering the weapon, according to the source, requires hours, days, months and years of constant practice. When traditional weapons were displaced by muskets after the arrival of Europeans, knowledge of it declined. The Māori cultural revival of the 1980s revived interest, and schools called para whakawai emerged, for example on Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua or at Hoani Waititi Marae in Auckland, founded by Pita Sharples; leading experts also included Mita Mohi. The taiaha plays a central role in wero, the challenge during the ceremonial welcome pōwhiri: a warrior demonstrates handling of the weapon and finally lays down the taki, a symbol of peace. It appears in kapa haka competitions, in the film Whale Rider (2002), on the New Zealand coat of arms, and on military badges.
Parts of the weapon
- Head — upoko
- Point — arero
- Grip — ate / tinana
- Blade — rau