What weapons did the pre-European Maori have? How did he use them? Weapons and Warfare by Hemi Bennett From youth to old age, training in the use of arms was one of the most important activities in the life of the old time Maori. One of the first and most important lessons which had to be learned by the beginner was to keep the eyes from moving when facing an enemy and to keep them fixed on either one of two points—the point of the shoulder or the point of the big toe. By watching the advanced foot of his opponent, the fighter would be warned of the delivery of an approaching blow by the downward clinching of the big toe, a fraction of a second before it arrived, giving him warning and that much time to prepare his parry. By the same token, the slightest twitch of the shoulder muscles also signalled the approach of a blow. It was also considered advantageous to be always on the move—when facing an enemy, and it was necessary to train oneself to be agile and light on the feet. On going in to do battle, a Maori would usually take with him two weapons—one, a short striking weapon generally carried in the waistband of his war apron, the other a long two-handed weapon. One of his most important weapons was the “Taiaha” which was considered the main weapon of defence and offence that he had. Anything from five to seven feet in length, it was made usually of manuka or puriri wood which had been tempered or hardened by placing in a fire before scraping off the charcoal with a shell. The base was scraped to a round, flattened blade-end which merged into a slender cylindrical shaft. The top was carved after the fashion of a tongue protruding from a chinless head, and though the weapon was slim the strength was so great that there was no fear of it breaking; consequently, a fighter had every confidence in his taiaha. In contest, the weapon was held in front of the body, with the tongue pointing to the ground, one hand gripping the taiaha just above the head, the other placed slightly higher. The fighter might give his opponent the impression that he intended thrusting the point or tongue-end through his middle, then, while he bent forward or ducked in anticipation of the blow, the opposite end of the weapon would be brought down on his head. When making a speech on a ceremonial occasion, a Chief would brandish a taiaha as he walked back and forth. Another weapon in fairly common use was the pouwhenua which was not unlike the taiaha in appearance except that there was no carved tongue or head (the end being brought to a thick point instead). Sometimes made of stone, they were used much as was the taiaha. Another favourite weapon was the tewhatewha which, though made entirely of wood, was not unlike an axe in shape, and was generally four to five feet in length. It was a peculiarly shaped weapon, pointed at the base while the shaft held its thickness through to the blade end, which tapered to its edge. The small end was used for delivering a point, the edge of the blade never being used to strike a blow, but rather that thick Maori weapons as painted by Angas. At the bottom: a pukaea (war trumpet) and just above this a war gong, used, according to Elsdon Best, for letting the enemy know that the garrison was on the alert. (Turnbull Library.)