Story: Mau rākau – Māori use of weaponry

Combat actions with koikoi

Click to move through this series of drawings showing warriors in single-handed combat using koikoi (double-pointed spears). These weapons were primarily employed to strike and parry with a two-handed grip, rather then lunging forward using the point alone. The drawings were made by Augustus Koch, a German-born artist who lived in New Zealand from the 1850s.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: B-110-010-1; B-110-010-2; B-110-010-3; B-110-010-4
Drawing by Augustus Koch

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Rangi Matamua, 'Mau rākau – Māori use of weaponry - Using traditional weapons', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/39760/combat-actions-with-koikoi (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Rangi Matamua, published 5 Sep 2013