- Taiaha
A Taiaha (pronounced as IPA2|taiaha) is a traditional weapon of the
Māori ofNew Zealand . Usually between 5 to 6 feet in length, it is a wooden close quarters weapon used for short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts. Unlike thequarterstaff and similarstick fighting weapons, one end of the taiaha is flattened to a broad blade, and the other narrows to a point with a carved face defiantly sticking out its tongue which represents "I'm going to eat you!".Mau rakau is themartial art that teaches the use of the taiaha and otherMāori weapons in combat. As with other martial arts styles, students of the taiaha spends years mastering the skills of timing, balance and co-ordination necessary to wield the weapon effectively.Modern usage
The taiaha is widely known due to its use in the "wero" [ [http://www.srichinmoycentre.org/Members/te_wero.jpgImage of taiaha use in wero] ] — the traditional Māori challenge. Tradition says that when a visiting party approached a Māori pā (fortified homestead/village) they would be challenged by a warrior with a taiaha to see if they were friend or foe. A "wero" is commonly given to heads of state and visiting dignitaries welcomed to New Zealand.
Among modern Māori the taiaha is one of many cultural items which are used to introduce youngsters in school to some of the traditional ways. Contests and competitions take place with schools fielding teams not for fights or matches but as "dance" or ritual.
The
New Zealand Army now incorporates the image of a taiaha into its official badge.Popular culture
The taiaha was also featured in two video games for the
PlayStation 2 , "The Mark of Kri " and its sequel "Rise of the Kasai " as a weapon for the games' hero, Rau. In "The Mark of Kri", the taiaha is plunged into the ground; however, in Māori culture, this is an offense as it is considered to be stabbing the earth mother.As a symbol of traditional Māori ways, the taiaha was featured in the award-winning 2002 film, "
Whale Rider " - and more briefly in the film "Once Were Warriors".References
External links
* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/search.aspx?term=taiaha Taiaha in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongrewa]
* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/search.aspx?advanced=colCollectionType%3a%22Photography%22+colDescription%3a%22taiaha%22+colCollectionGroup%3aCH&imagesonly=on Photographs featuring taiaha from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]ee also
*
Mau rākau Other Māori weapons:
*Mere (weapon)
*Kotiate
*Tewhatewha
*Patu
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