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Kotiate, Wood, Short striking weapon

Kotiate, Wood, Short striking weapon

Shared by Te Hikoi Museum

A wooden kotiate with a carved face on the reke (butt). It is spatulate in shape with two deep indents on either side of the blade approximately halfway down. The face is intricately carved and has a paua shell eye on each side. There is also a hole drilled through the reke most likely to house a tau (wrist cord). Kotiate are one-handed thrusting weapons with a flat blade on both sides. They are spatulate, symmetrical, and deeply indented on either side of the blade; the word kotiate literally means 'to divide, split in two.' They were prized weapons but also favoured by rangatira (chiefs) for making speeches. Kotiate are usually made from whale bone - making this wooden kotiate an unusual type. The few wooden kotiate were often made from hardwoods such as akeake or rautangi.

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Te Hikoi Museum

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Te Hikoi Museum

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  • Text adapted with permission from Te Papa and Digital NZ

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