Taiaha
The taiaha is a Māori fighting staff, carried as a weapon and as a mark of standing. The head carries the carved face and tongue; the shaft is the striking length. Today it is given and displayed as a milestone gift and as a piece of whakairo in its own right.
This range covers two kinds. Full-size taiaha run to about 1520mm and come with a carved head and either a carved or plain shaft; several are finished with a New Zealand greenstone (pounamu) tongue. Stand-mounted taiaha are made for a 21st or 50th and sit on a base for display, carved with Māori and island patterns and inlaid with pāua shell — often the number itself picked out in pāua.
Each piece is individually carved, so size, timber and detail vary. The product page gives the measurements and what is included. You are welcome to see a piece before you buy at our showroom at 333 Great South Road, Ōtāhuhu.
Also see wood carvings, alternatives to a 21st key, or all 21st keys.
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Choosing a taiaha
Start with how it will be used. A full-size taiaha is meant to be held and is the choice for a presentation or a wall mount; a stand-mounted piece is made to sit on a shelf or mantel and is the usual choice for a 21st or 50th gift.
Materials and detail
Taiaha here are carved from timber. Several carry a pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) tongue set into the head, and many use pāua shell inlay through the carving — on milestone pieces the number is often formed in pāua. Because each is carved by hand, no two are identical.
Size and handling
Full-size pieces are long — up to about 1520mm — so check the measurement on the product page against the space you have, and allow for packing. Stand-mounted pieces are shorter and come with their base.