Description

Carved Wooden Wahaika club

Carved wooden wahaika club made from tulip wood. This beautiful club is carved on both sides.

A Wahaika is a type of traditional Māori hand weapon. Wahaika are short club-like weapons usually made of wood or whalebone. They are used for thrusting and striking in close-quarter, hand-to-hand fighting.

Wahaika (club) were used in close hand-to-hand combat to deflect blows. And also to strike the chest, head and wrist.

Pūkaiora

Many wahaika have a small figure carved on their side called a pūkaiora which represented a tribal war God that would guard over the warrior during battle.

Details wooden wahaika club

Size: 39cmx13cmx2cm (15.35″x5.12″x0.79″)

Or check out our large wahaika club with stand >>>

More information about Maori wahaika

The wahaika was a pre-European weapon that was traditionally used in hand to hand contact. Wahaika, which means “Mouth of the Fish,” was mostly made from wood or whalebone. The wooden wahaika is often carved with intricate designs. These weapons have a concave back and have a carved notch on the edge of the back of the weapon. Many also have carvings on the reke, and many have carvings of small human-looking figures near the handle. The weapons were used in battle, of course, but also used in speeches and ceremony to accentuate the delivery of a particular point where Rangitira wanted people to pay attention. As with the other Māori weapons, the wahaika were used in hand-to-hand combat. The warrior would thrust the wahaika into the body of their enemy, and since the wahaika has a sharp edge, much harm could be done.

Source: NZ Army Museum >>>