Mau rākau
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Mau rākau, meaning "to bear a weapon", is a traditional Māori martial art that developed before firearms reached New Zealand.
[edit] Weapons
Mau rākau is a general term referring to the skilled use of weapons. It is said that the use of weapons was taught in the Whare-tū-taua (House or school of war). The term Mau taiaha is used to refer to the use of the taiaha and does not necessarily include the other weapons listed below:
- Kotiate - A short whalebone club. It has a notch on each side used to catch an opponent's weapon.
- Wahaika - A short club of wood or whalebone. It has a notch on one side which is used to catch an opponent's weapon.
- Mere - A short club made from greenstone, wood, or bone. Similar to the patu. If made of greenstone it is termed a Mere-pounamu.
- Patu - A hand-held club made of bone or stone.
- Māripi - A short decorative club with teeth along one edge used as a knife. All of the short club weapons were used in close proximity to dispatch the adversary. The warriors who went into battle with these weapons were especially feared.
- Taiaha - A long fighting staff five feet or more long used for close hand-to-hand combat.
- Toki-pou-tangata - An adze used on ceremonial occasions. The greenstone head is intricately carved.
- Tewhatewha - A long club decorated with feathers.
- Pou-whenua - A long club made from the rib or jawbone of a whale.
- Hoeroa - Literally 'long paddle' - a long weapon based on the canoe paddle.
- Tao - a long spear measuring from 7ft - 8ft long. The weapon of choice of a majority of the warriors of old.
Regular schools are held on Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua to teach the use of the taiaha.
[edit] Mythology
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 Papatuanuku. The Whare-tū-taua (House of war) is a term which covers the basics of educating young toa (warriors) in the arts of war. The Whare-tū-taua is governed by the god Tū, who represents the human tendency to create wars and conflicts.
