On 12-14 September, Puketeraki Marae hosted its inaugural Mau Taiaha wānanga. Forty-five men of all ages gathered to learn the different aspects of the taiaha.

We were lucky to have had two of our senior tutors facilitate the wānanga and share their expertise. To conclude the wānanga, the boys put on a performance, which was followed by a prize-giving ceremony.

The next taiaha wānanga is scheduled for Labour Weekend at Taumutu. If you are interested in going, please contact Waiariki at [email protected] to register your interest.

Here is one participant’s account of the wānanga:
“Kia ora koutou, ko Karamū Taratoa-Bannister tōku ingoa, tekau mā toru ōku tau. Ka mau kē te wehi o te wānanga Taiaha. I haere au ki ētahi atu wānanga maha, engari, ko tēnei taku wānanga tuatahi mō te Taiaha. I whakaaro au i te mana me te wehi o te taiaha i tēnei wānanga.
Ka tino rerekē tēnei rangona wairua ki au, ahakoa, tino pai rawa hoki. Ināianei, ka piki ake ōku whakaaro pai ki te ao nēhera o te iwi Māori.

I rongo au i te kaha o tēnei mahi. I maumahara au ki tētahi rā i kaha karanga au, nā te mea, i mahi taiaha mātou i runga i te karaihe, i whāwhā ō mātou waewae i ngā pūngitangita (prickles) i raro–auē te mamae. I te mutunga o te mahi pakari i tīmata mātou ki te hākinakina hari. I ohorere te hinengaro. I mahi mātou ki ngā wāhi ātaahua.

Ko tāku tino taonga o tēnei wānanga, ko te māramatanga o te wāhanga o te taiaha me ngā kaupapa tūturu hoki. Kei runga noa atu ngā tāngata i te wānanga, nā rātou au i poipoi ki te whai i tēnei mahi kia toa.

Nō reira e te whānau, mēnā ka kitea nei e koutou ētahi pānui mō tētahi wānanga taiaha, me haere. Ka whati te tai, ka pao te tōrea. Seize the opportunity,” Nā Karamū Taratoa-Bannister.

Tamariki at the taiaha wānanga.

Tamariki at the taiaha wānanga.

Some serious training on Apes Road, Puketeraki.

Some serious training on Apes Road, Puketeraki.