Maori Warfare

Warfare was a common thing for the early Maori. Tribes would fight one another for food, land, and natural resources. Wars also took place to enforce mana among other tribes. Warfare quite often took place at Pa sites where one tribe was protected. Before a battle the Maori warriors would do a haka to intimidate the opposition. The haka was also a traditional thing to do. The Maori would use many weapons in warfare such as the Patu, Mere, Tewhatewha, wahaika, kotiate and the Taiaha. (PICTURES OF THESE CAN BE SEEN IN AN EARLIER POST.) The Maori also had different gods for different things. The war god was Tumatauenga.

Here is a drawing of a Maori tribe doing a traditional Haka before battle:


Here is a photo of the Maori warrior ready for war. Maori warriors were well respected as they were defending their tribe: