Story: History

Wooden club

Wooden club

Seasonal warfare between different tribes became an established feature of Māori life. Battles were fought over resources and to maintain tribal prestige. Weapons for combat, which was usually hand-to-hand, were made of stone and wood. This superbly carved wooden wahakia (a type of club) was collected by James Cook on his first voyage to New Zealand. It has since been returned to New Zealand.

Using this item

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira

Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'History - Māori arrival and settlement', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/1452/wooden-club (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by John Wilson, updated 1 Apr 2020