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  Patu ōnewa weapon D1914.56

Patu ōnewa weapon

Ōnewa Stone

He pērā anō i te mere pounamu, i te patu parāoa, hāpaitia ai hei poro i te upoko hoariri, nā te aneane o tōna ate, o tōna rau. He taonga rangatira tēnei ki te Māori. Mārakerake ana te kite atu i te tohungatanga o ngā mahi, i te ringarehe o tuakaihau. Inā hoki, whā tekau ngā patu parāhe i waihangatia i runga anō i te hiahia ō Joseph Banks hei taonga tauhokohoko. Kei tēnei whakakitenga e whakaatuhia ana tētahi o aua patu parāhe.

Patu ōnewa, mere pounamu and patu parāoa were generally used for decapitation because of their very sharp ends. They were highly regarded by Māori and on ceremonial occasions were used as a chief’s sceptre. This patu ōnewa gives an indication of the inherent artistry and understanding of natural form so characteristic of early Māori workmanship. Because he understood the high regard in which this type of club held, Joseph Banks had forty of them cast in brass. One of the brass patu is on display in this exhibition.

On loan from Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology D1914.56

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  Kotiate weapon MAA D1914.60
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  Kotiate weapon MAA D1914.60 3
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  Kotiate weapon MAA D1914.60 2

Kotiate weapon

Rākau Wood

He mea hanga tēnei taonga o te riri ki te parāoa, ki te rākau mārō rānei, pēnei i tēnei. He upoko-hou, he mea whakairo, he tohu kaitieki, hei hāpai i te riri āpititū. Ko te kakau mā te ringa o te toa e tūrourou e whai kuhunga ai, e rongo ai te ito i te reka o te rau, o te ate-runga, o te ate-tau rānei o te kotiate. Ko ngā matarua hei koti i te ate o te hoariri, inā hoki tēnei karangatanga ingoa te koti-ate.

This type of patu is made either from whalebone or, like this one, from very hard wood. The upoko-hou on the butt of the handle (kakau) is an example of early carving, usually of a deity or protector. This type of weapon was used in close-range encounters, the owner looking for the opportunity to strike with the ate-runga (upper blade) or the ate-tau (base blade), or to deliver a sharp jab with the top of the kotiate (rau). The two notches (matarua) were used to sever an opponent’s liver, hence the name ‘koti-ate’.

On loan from Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology D1914.60

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  Wahaika weapon MAA D1914.58 3
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  Wahaika weapon MAA D1914.58 4
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  Wahaika weapon MAA D1914.58 2

Wahaika weapon

Rākau Wood

He ingoa karangatanga anō tō tēnei tū patu, he patu ngungurahu. He mea hanga ki te parāoa, ki te rākau mārō rānei, pēnei i tēnei waha-ika. E whai tikanga ai i te whawhai āpititū. E rua ngā tohu whakairo, he poukaiora kei te tapa raro o te kape, he upoko-hou kei te pito o te kakau me kore e hinga te ika i te ati. Hāpaitia ai tēnei tū patu hei poka, hei turupana rānei. Me kore ake te waha o te ika.

Patu wahaika, also known as a patu ngungurahu were made from whalebone or very hard wood, and were most useful for fighting at close quarters (āpititū). The carved figure below the inner crescent is usually a deity or protector for the user and is called a poukaiora. The figure on the butt facing away from the hand is another deity to aid the dispatch of one’s enemy. The wahaika could be used for thrusting and striking in various ways. Waha-ika refers to its hook-like shape.

On loan from Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, D1914.58

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  Patu Parāoa weapon MAA D1914.57 2
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  Patu Parāoa weapon MAA D1914.57 1

Patu Parāoa weapon

Parāoa Whalebone

Ko te patu parāoa nei, e pararahi ana tētahi papa, e paku tāwhana ana tētahi. Ko tōna uruuru mata areare, he ate mata turupana, he rau mata whāngai-pō. He pērā anō i te kāhui patu, he pūare mā te tau, he reke kua whakaawaawatia, e pai ai te turupana whakamuri i te upoko hoariri hei te riri āpititū. Ko te momo parāoa nei i monoa nuitia nā tōna mana, nā tōna rarahi, me te aha, i nanao atu taua huatau hei tohu pakanga, nā rā, ko ‘Te koanga umu tohorā’.

This patu retains the natural form of the bone with a flat surface on one side and a slight curve on the other. The elongated blade with a solid striking edge is the ate and the top jabbing edge is the rau. Like other patu it has a pūare (hole) for the tau (wrist cord), and the reke (butt end) has grooves, effective up close in a reverse strike to the head. The parāoa (sperm whale) was admired for its power and size and was referred to in warfare terminology, for instance ‘Te koanga umu tohorā’, meaning to dissect the whale for cooking.

On loan from Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, D1914.57

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  Wahaika weapon MAA D1914.59 2
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  Wahaika weapon MAA D1914.59 2

Wahaika weapon

Parāoa Whalebone

He mea hanga tēnei wahaika ki te parāoa. I whai tikanga ai i te riri āpititū, inā hoki he hangariki tēnei momo wahaika. Kua kore he poukaiora, heoi anō he kōtuke kei te tapa raro o te waha. Kua kore hoki he manaia i te upoko-hou, heoi anō he pūare mā te tau. He rerekē anō tēnei momo wahaika i ngā wahaika o naianei, inā hoki, koia nei te orokohanganga o tēnei hanga, tōmua i ngā whao rino nā te uaua o te parāoa.

This patu wahaika is made from whalebone. Its small size indicates that it was most useful in close range attacks (whawhai apititū). It has no carved poukaiora (guardian or deity figure) which are usually carved near the crescent, however there is a protrusion maintaining the waka-ika shape. It has no manaia (guardian figure) on the upoko-hou (butt end), however there is a hole for the tau (wrist cord). This simple whalebone wakaika is an example of the original form before the introduction of steel chisels allowed more complex surface decoration.

On loan from Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, D1914.59