Most of the time, a Māori warrior would take two weapons into battle, a short, striking one and a long weapon, which allowed him to stand further away from his enemy. Here are some of the weapons they used: One of the main weapons that pre-European Māori used were patu onewa, which were made from basalt, which was a local resource.

On this page are a list of a few facts about the weapons used by Maori warriors. This information includes what weapons they used and how they used them; followed be short descriptions of some of the most common weapons.

To Māori, weapons were more than just implements of warfare — they were taonga (treasures), and handed down as precious heirlooms from generation to generation. Weapons were made of wood, stone and bone in a slow, painstaking process.

One of the most well-known Māori weapons is the taiaha. It is usually made from wood, though sometimes it is made from whale bone. Due to its shape, it is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a spear. The staff has a pointed end, and is usually between 1.5 and 1.8 metres long.

Most of the time, a Māori warrior would take two weapons into battle, a short, striking one and a long weapon, which allowed him to stand further away from his enemy. Here are a few Māori weapons: One of the main weapons that pre-European Māori used were patu onewa, which were made from basalt, which was a local resource.

Weapons. To Māori, weapons were taonga (treasures), and were often handed down to descendants. Weapons were made of wood, stone and bone, in a slow, painstaking process. Karakia (incantations) were sometimes said over weapons to imbue them with deities and make them tapu (sacred).

Māori weapons were made of wood, stone and bone. They can be divided into two general categories – long two-handed weapons and short single-handed weapons. The best-known two-handed weapons are the taiaha, tewhatewha and pouwhenua.