Wahaika

Wahaika, circa 1900. Museum Rietberg Zurich

Wahaika is a type of traditional hand weapon of the Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.

A wahaika is a short club normally made of wood or whalebone. Its name can be translated to mean "the mouth of the fish". The club has a notch on one side which is used to catch an opponent's weapon. It is used for thrusting and striking in close quarter, hand-to-hand fighting.[1]

2 wooden wahaika and one made from whale bone in Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand.

References

  1. ↑ "Wahaika (hand club)". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 14 July 2010.

External links