A Maori patu is a short club, made of stone or hard wood and used in hand-to-hand fighting. Only warriors of high standing possessed patu, and being a treasured heirloom, patu were often handed down from generation to generation. This series of shots was taken over a continuous 24 hour period, shot in a whare wananga ( house of learning ) which was under construction at Kiakohe.
About the Carver
The carver of these pieces is Don Jack [ Te Aupouri / Te Rarawa ] who sadly passed away in July of 2008. He was a good friend who was keen, when appropriate and possible, to push the boundaries of the traditional art of Wahakairo ( Maori Carving ).
