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Story: Conifers

Fighting with a double-pointed spear

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Fighting with a double-pointed spear

Māori carved the wood of tānekaha into fighting spears, especially the koikoi (double-pointed spear). The wood is strong, durable, and very elastic.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-110-010-2

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

Maggy Wassilieff, Conifers – Celery pines, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/12686/fighting-with-a-double-pointed-spear (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 1 March 2009.