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


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