Toki kakauroa (long handled hatchet)

The kakau-roa, meaning ‘long handled’, is the long form of the patiti. Both weapons are adaptations using the common trade axe-head. The axe head is set in a wood, and sometimes bone, handle and used in close quarters combat. The axe-heads were sometimes ground down to reduce weight making them more effective as a hand-held weapon.

 

There was no precedent for this weapon prior to the introduction of the trade axe head.