Taiaha - Maori Weapon

 


The Taiaha, a traditional Maori weapon, is a popular collectors item and New Zealand gift.

Parts of the Taiaha:
The taiaha was usually made of a hardwood, roughly 1.5m long.

1. Striking blade (rau) - the lower end of the taiaha, a thin, flattish blade.
2. Shaft - usually somewhat oval in shape, where the taiaha was held
3. Top end - consisting of a head (upoko) carved on both sides, with a tongue (arero) protruding defiantly from the mouth. Usually the eyes of the upoko were made from NZ paua (abalone) shell. On ceremonial taiaha, below the head was decorated with feathers or dog hair.

Whilst the Taiaha looks like a spear, it was not usually used in that manner. Instead, the taiaha was a striking weapon. Most of the time the taiaha was held with the blade uppermost, and the tongue (arero) pointing down. The tongue end might be used to jab at the opponent's stomach or face, but only so that they could then reverse arms and strike the top of the opponent's head with the blade ( rau). A skilled warrior could smash his opponent's skull with the blade of his taiaha.

We have several different taiaha for sale, including one with a greenstone jade tongue. A video of that taiaha shows you the different sections of the taiaha.