{{Short description|Māori carved wooden posts to mark places of significance}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2025}} thumb|Pouwhenua in front of Civic Offices, Hereford Street, Christchurch, New Zealand '''Pouwhenua''' or '''pou whenua''' (land posts) are carved wooden posts used by Māori, the indigenous peoples of New Zealand to mark territorial boundaries or places of significance. They are generally artistically and elaborately carved and can be found throughout New Zealand.<ref name=govt>{{cite web |url=http://www.arc.govt.nz/heritage/historic-places-in-regional-parks/pou-whenua.cfm |title=Pou Whenua |publisher=Arc.govt.nz |access-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822130500/http://www.arc.govt.nz/heritage/historic-places-in-regional-parks/pou-whenua.cfm |archive-date=22 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Cultural significance == Much like totem poles, pou whenua tell a story. They are significant to the Māori people, representing their contributions to the cultural heritage of New Zealand. They acknowledge the association between the people (tāngata) and the land (whenua). Specifically, they reflect the relationship between the ancestors, environment, and the reputation or standing of the tangata whenua.<ref name=govt/><ref>{{cite journal|last=Johnstone |first=Liesl |url=https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/assets/Documents/TeKaraka44.pdf |title=Marks of an ancestor |journal=Te Karaka |issue=44 |pages=23–25 |year=2009 |publisher=Ngāi Tahu Publications |access-date=3 July 2014}}</ref>
== Weapon == The name pouwhenua is also applied to a fighting club, belonging to the same class of weaponry as the tewhatewha and taiaha. Pouwhenua are usually made of wood and have a large, broad blade known as ''rau'' at one end and a pointed, sharp tip at the other end. Usually a human head motif was carved on the shaft to form a boundary between the shaft and the long spear point.<ref name="Hiroa">{{Cite web | last = Hiroa | first = Te Rangi | title = Long Clubs | work = The Coming of the Maori | publisher = Maori Purposes Fund Board | year = 1949 | url =https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-BucTheC-t1-g1-t2-body1-d12-d5.html | access-date = 21 November 2010}}</ref> Pouwhenua were used for attacking an opponent with short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with quick footwork on the part of the wielder.<ref name="Hiroa" /> A single blow with the broad blade could easily result in death.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Pouwhenua (long handled pointed fighting staff) | work = Collections Online | publisher = Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa | url = http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=213399 | access-date = 21 November 2010}}</ref>
==See also== *Pou whakarae
Other Māori weapons: *Mere (weapon) *Kotiate *Tewhatewha *Patu *Taiaha *Wahaika
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Pouwhenua}} * [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Term.aspx?irn=83 Pouwhenua (pointed fighting staff)] from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa * http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/10712
Category:Māori art {{Māori}} {{Maori-stub}}