Taua
Encyclopedia
A taua is a war party in the tradition of the Maori, the indigenous
people of New Zealand
. Contemporary knowledge of taua is gleaned from missionary observations and writings during the Musket Wars
of the early 19th century and the later New Zealand wars.
), and would be made up of around 70 warrior
s. This number was the general capacity of a “waka taua
” (a war canoe), however sometimes waka would be designed to carry up to 140 warriors, and such canoes were called "Te Hokwhitu a Tu".During the height of the musket wars the number of warriors rose to about 2,000 and the group travelled mainly on foot around the North Island coast.
in the form of an ambush or a surprise raid. Their intimate knowledge of New Zealand’s natural environment enabled them to appear and disappear swiftly and noiselessly and successfully complete their mission. As Maori at the time were strongly committed to the idea of "utu
" (revenge), the aim would be to kill all members of the enemy war party and leave no survivors. There were, however, occasions when warring taua would come to a truce. This would be typically settled through the arrangement of an inter-tribal marriage.
was a central feature to the life and culture of each taua. Other customs and rites included abstinence of certain foods and practices, dedication to Tumatauenga
, the god of war, and rites that would place a "tapu" around the warrior, and lift the tapu when the warrior returned home.It was customary to eat the vanquished or to take slaves which could be eaten later or used as slave labour.Heads of defeated chiefs were kept as trophies and displayed on palisades of the home pa
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....
people 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...
. Contemporary knowledge of taua is gleaned from missionary observations and writings during the Musket Wars
Musket Wars
The Musket Wars were a series of five hundred or more battles mainly fought between various hapū , sometimes alliances of pan-hapū groups and less often larger iwi of Māori between 1807 and 1842, in New Zealand.Northern tribes such as the rivals Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whātua were the first to obtain...
of the early 19th century and the later New Zealand wars.
Composition
A taua was typically composed of males, although there were occasions when women fought as well. The party was led by a chief (rangatiraRangatira
Rangatira are the hereditary Māori leaders of hapū, and were described by ethnologists such as Elsdon Best as chieftains . Ideally, rangatira were people of great practical wisdom who held authority on behalf of the tribe and maintained boundaries between a tribe's land and that of other tribes...
), and would be made up of around 70 warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
s. This number was the general capacity of a “waka taua
Waka taua
A waka taua is a Māori war canoe. From the Māori language waka canoe and taua army....
” (a war canoe), however sometimes waka would be designed to carry up to 140 warriors, and such canoes were called "Te Hokwhitu a Tu".During the height of the musket wars the number of warriors rose to about 2,000 and the group travelled mainly on foot around the North Island coast.
Strategy
Taua would typically restrict their activity to the fighting season, between late November and early April, when food and fishing was plentiful.during the height of the musket wars Taua were away from their turangawaiwai for up to a year.By 1830 they were no longer dependent on traditional crops such as kumara which only grew well in the north-most iwi grew large quantities of more easily grown potatoes .The taua would usually attack at dawnDawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
in the form of an ambush or a surprise raid. Their intimate knowledge of New Zealand’s natural environment enabled them to appear and disappear swiftly and noiselessly and successfully complete their mission. As Maori at the time were strongly committed to the idea of "utu
Utu (Maori concept)
Utu is a Māori concept of reciprocation, or balance.To retain mana, both friendly and unfriendly actions require an appropriate response - hence utu covers both the reciprocation of kind deeds, and the seeking of revenge....
" (revenge), the aim would be to kill all members of the enemy war party and leave no survivors. There were, however, occasions when warring taua would come to a truce. This would be typically settled through the arrangement of an inter-tribal marriage.
Customs
The hakaHaka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
was a central feature to the life and culture of each taua. Other customs and rites included abstinence of certain foods and practices, dedication to Tumatauenga
Tumatauenga
In Māori mythology, Tū or Tūmatauenga is one of the great gods, and the origin of war. All war-parties were dedicated to him, and he was treated with the greatest respect and awe. He is usually a son of the primordial parent, sky and earth...
, the god of war, and rites that would place a "tapu" around the warrior, and lift the tapu when the warrior returned home.It was customary to eat the vanquished or to take slaves which could be eaten later or used as slave labour.Heads of defeated chiefs were kept as trophies and displayed on palisades of the home pa
Taua in Film
- Taua - War Party, 2007, written and directed by Tearepa Kahihttp://www.nzfilm.co.nz/film_catalogue/short_films/latest_short_films/Taua_-_War_Party_574.aspx
External links
- New Zealand in History: The Maori: History and Culture: The Haka, The Taua