Taiaha
From Free net encyclopedia
A Taiaha (pronounced Tie-uh-ha) is a weapon carried by the Maori warriors of New Zealand.
The taiaha is a staff with a wooden tongue-shaped blade at the end. Sticking out ones tongue is a traditional sign of Maori defiance used before one's enemies. A taiaha is a work of art as well as a weapon. The blade could be more effective if pointed like a spear but the broad head allows room for ornate carvings. Just beneath the head is a cluster of feathers meant to create a visual distraction for one's opponent. A full sized taiaha may measure 5 feet in length.
After nearly 120 years of a British-based insignia, the New Zealand Army now incorporates the image of a taiaha into its official crest.
The taiaha was also featured in two video games for the PlayStation 2, The Mark of Kri and it's sequel Rise of the Kasai as a weapon for the games' hero, Rau.
Additionally, the taiaha as a symbol of traditional Maori way was shown in the 2002 film, Whale Rider a drama about a young girl growing up with her grandfather and caught between traditional Maori ways and the modern (albeit rural NZ) western-style ideas.