Mau rākau
Videos
Mau rākau, meaning "to bear a weapon", is a martial art based on traditional Māori weapons.
Taiaha - 'fourth position'
A man holding a tao
Wahaika
Videos
A wahaika is a type of traditional Māori hand weapon. Wahaika are short club-like weapons usually made of wood or whalebone and are used for thrusting and striking in close-quarter, hand-to-hand fight
Mau rākau
…Pouwhenua Wahaika It is said weapons including the taiaha and patu were handed down by Tāne, god of the forest and Tū, god of war, the two sons of Rangi-nui and Papatūānuku…
Wahaika, circa 1900. Rietberg Museum.
Two wooden and one whalebone wahaika in Te Papa Museum