Category details
Categorytaiaha
Alternative termshani, māipi, taiaha-a-kura, taieha, taiaha-kura, pouhani
SourceMātauranga Māori Thesaurus
Overview
Double-handed weapon. Consisting of the rau, or striking blade, a shaft of oval cross-section, and an upoko or head with arero or tongue extending out from the mouth in the Māori gesture of defiance. Some taiaha retain a tauri or collar of feathers, adorned with awe or tufts of dog hair. Usually made from hardwood.