• Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 1

Tīmata ki te taha mauī

Pouwhenua weapon

Rākau Wood

Ko te pouwhenua te rākau taketake o ngā rākau riri a te Māori. He hanganga i ahu mai i te whiunga o Tūhapairangi e te atua o te riri, e Tūmatauenga, i okaina tōna kōpako ki te koikoi, ā, koina oti tōna hanga. I rerekē ai i te taiaha, he kurupā tōna, he tīngongi tōna. Ko te tīngongi hei puringa tāmau. He wahanga whakairo anō me kore ake te tīngongi, he hangarite ēnei tohu whakairo kei ngā taha areare. Heoti ko ōna kawenga me kore ake te taiaha.

The pouwhenua is the most ancient of all the two handed weapons.  The war-god Tūmatauenga killed Tūhapairangi by stabbing his spear through the back of Tūhapairangi’s head so that its point protruded though Tūhapairangi’s mouth.  This is said to be the origin of its distinctive shape.  The sharp point is known as the kurupā, and the carved band which provides a good grip is the tīngongi.  This pouwhenua has an additional symmetrical carving design near the ate (side blades) which could also function as a grip. Fundamentally, the pouwhenua has the same functions as the taiaha.

On loan from Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, D1914.62

Tewhatewha weapon

Rākau Wood

Hai te ringa kotahi, he rākau tūtohi nā te ngārahu. Hai ngā ringa e rua, he rākau o te riri.  I rerekē ai tēnei rākau i tōna kurupā, i tōna upoko-hou. Hei te takiwā o te upoko-hou whakamaua ai he pohoi, e pai ai te kitea mai ngā tūtohinga e te ngohi. Hei tōna rapa he tīngongi, hei puringa tāmau, ā, ko te pito kokoi ko te ate. Nā rā, ko te kurupā kē hei tā, hei karo anō, ko ngā ripa tauārai hei whāngai whakarehu.

As a single handed weapon, this was the chief’s signaling staff; as a double handed weapon it was his quarter staff. Its unique characteristics include an axe-head shape at one end, usually adorned with an array of feathers (pohoi). Along the body (rapa) is a carved gripping piece (tīngongi), and the pointed portion is known as the ate. The flat side (kurupā) of the axe-head is used for striking and also for deflecting, while both ends were used for thrusting.

On loan from Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, D1914.64


Taiaha weapon

Rākau, anga pāua Wood, pāua shell

Ko te taiaha te rākau riri rongonui a te Māori, i hāpaihia ai hei tā wawe, hei wero pū rānei, me kore hoki ngā toroparawae. Ko ōna tohu he upoko me te ārero kua whakairohia, ā, ko ngā mata ā rūrū he mea puru ki te pāua. Tēnā ko ēnei, kāore anō i oti, ko ngā whatu mau pāua e rua he taratara ā waho. He 1.85 mita te tāroatanga o tēnei taiaha.

Taiaha are one of the more common double-handed staffs. They are used for quick, sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts which require agile toroparawae (footwork). Common features include a carved upoko (head) and protruding arero (tongue) with two sets of eyes inlaid with pāua.  This taiaha is unusual because it only has one pair of eyes and the pāua inlay has been notched around the outer edge. This taiaha is 1.85 metres long.

On loan from Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, D1914.61


The museum’s collections are always growing and on this page we share some of the highlights.  Our thanks to the donors for their support.

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Researchers can view collections that are not on display by making an appointment with the Museum Collection Manager.  Staff can also take small group tours through the collection storage facilities by appointment.  Please note that staff are not always available immediately and it is advisable to make arrangements as far in advance as possible, particularly if you are only visiting Gisborne for a short period.

Researchers who are unable to visit in person can make their enquiry by email, letter or telephone

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