Pouwhenua
Encyclopedia
Pouwhenua or pou whenua (land post), are carved, wooden posts, or are fighting staffs used by Maori
, the indigenous peoples
of New Zealand
. Pou whenua are wooden posts that mark territorial boundaries or places of significance. They are generally artistically and elaborately carved and can be found throughout New Zealand.. Pouwhenua are fighting staffs that are long-handled with a club-like broad head for striking.
s, pou whenuas tell a story. They are significant to the Māori peoples, representing their contributions to the cultural heritage of the New Zealand. They acknowledge the association between the people (tāngata) and the land (whenua). Specifically, they reflect the relationship between the ancestors, environment, and the reputation or standing of the Tāngata Whenua
people.
and taiaha
, pouwhenua are usually made of wood and have a large, broad blade known as rau at one end and a pointed, sharp tip at the other end. Usually a human head motif was carved on the shaft to form a boundary between the shaft and the long spear point. Pouwhenua were used for attacking an opponent with short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with quick footwork on the part of the wielder. A single blow with the broad blade could easily result in death.
Māori
The Māori are the native or indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand . They arrived in New Zealand from eastern Polynesia in several waves at some time before 1300 CE. Over several centuries in isolation, the Māori developed a unique culture with their own language, a rich mythology,...
, the indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Pou whenua are wooden posts that mark territorial boundaries or places of significance. They are generally artistically and elaborately carved and can be found throughout New Zealand.. Pouwhenua are fighting staffs that are long-handled with a club-like broad head for striking.
Cultural significance
Much like totem poleTotem pole
Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America...
s, pou whenuas tell a story. They are significant to the Māori peoples, representing their contributions to the cultural heritage of the New Zealand. They acknowledge the association between the people (tāngata) and the land (whenua). Specifically, they reflect the relationship between the ancestors, environment, and the reputation or standing of the Tāngata Whenua
Tangata Whenua
Tāngata whenua is a Māori term of the indigenous peoples of New Zealand and literally means "people of the land", from tāngata, 'people' and whenua land.-Meanings:...
people.
Weaponry
Belonging to the same class of weaponry as the tewhatewhaTewhatewha
A tewhatewha is a long-handled Māori club weapon. It is shaped like an axe and, once formerly used in battle, is now used in ceremonies. Like Pouwhenua and Taiaha, this long club was designed for scientific sparring and lightning strokes and thrusts, aided by quick footwork on the part of the...
and taiaha
Taiaha
A Taiaha is a traditional weapon of the Māori of New Zealand.It is a wooden, or sometimes whale bone, close quarters, staff weapon used for short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with quick footwork on the part of the wielder. Taiaha are usually between in length...
, pouwhenua are usually made of wood and have a large, broad blade known as rau at one end and a pointed, sharp tip at the other end. Usually a human head motif was carved on the shaft to form a boundary between the shaft and the long spear point. Pouwhenua were used for attacking an opponent with short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with quick footwork on the part of the wielder. A single blow with the broad blade could easily result in death.
See also
Other Māori weapons:- Mere (weapon)Mere (weapon)The mere is a type of short, broad-bladed club , usually made from Nephrite jade . A mere is one of the traditional, close combat, one-handed weapons of the indigenous Māori, of New Zealand. A mere could be used to split a skull open.- Form :The Mere is a spatulate, leaf shaped, form of short club...
- KotiateKotiateKotiate is a type of traditional hand weapon of the Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.A Kotiate is a short club normally made of wood or whalebone...
- TewhatewhaTewhatewhaA tewhatewha is a long-handled Māori club weapon. It is shaped like an axe and, once formerly used in battle, is now used in ceremonies. Like Pouwhenua and Taiaha, this long club was designed for scientific sparring and lightning strokes and thrusts, aided by quick footwork on the part of the...
- PatuPatuA patu is a generic term for a club or pounder used by the Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. The word patu in the Māori language means to strike, hit, beat, or subdue. .- Weapons :...
- TaiahaTaiahaA Taiaha is a traditional weapon of the Māori of New Zealand.It is a wooden, or sometimes whale bone, close quarters, staff weapon used for short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with quick footwork on the part of the wielder. Taiaha are usually between in length...
External links
- http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Term.aspx?irn=83Pouwhenua (pointed fighting staff) from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa TongarewaMuseum of New Zealand Te Papa TongarewaThe Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
] - http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/10712