Who Will Be The Ultimate Maori Warrior?

March 15 2007

Who Will Be The Ultimate Maori Warrior?

It’s been more than a century since the mighty taiaha has been used in life-or-death combat. Now 10 brave men will fight with this ancient weapon in a new reality show on Maori Television that aims to find the ultimate Maori warrior.

TOA O AOTEAROA – premiering on Monday March 19 at 9.30 PM – takes these men, already skilled in taiaha, to a secret location, and cuts them off from modern life to live as their ancestors did.

Carefully chosen from across New Zealand for their taiaha abilities, and aged from 17 to 56, the group goes through gruelling daily tests of strength, discipline, mental and physical stamina, and agility.

The winner of each challenge chooses an opponent to go up against the loser in the wheiwheia (one-on-one fight) of mau rakau (wielding the taiaha). This battle is held on a specially-constructed marae, where traditionally these disputes were resolved.

The fighters score points for full hits to the body, limbs and head, and the warrior with the least amount of points at the end of three, three-minute bouts is deemed to have reached his limits.

There’s only one rule in TOA O AOTEAROA – when the judge says stop, the fighters must obey.

The warrior left standing at the end of the 13-part series takes home a $10,000 prize and the title of TOA O AOTEAROA champion.

But in ancient times, the victor wouldn’t have walked away with money – his prize would have been his life, says producer Reuben Collier, of Rotorua-based Maui Productions.

“Everyone has seen the taiaha used in kapa haka as a cultural art form but TOA O AOTEAROA takes taiaha off the stage and puts it into its true context – as a weapon of combat.

“This is a truly New Zealand martial art form and believe me, these guys don’t hold back. It’s easy to see why one warrior with a taiaha was able to defeat large groups of attackers. One well-aimed blow would have been deadly.”

That’s why Reuben developed a protective suit for the fighters, which includes a chest plate, fibre-glass helmet, steel face cage, back protector and padded leather gloves.

“At the end of a bout, we would be hammering dents out of the helmets,” says Reuben. “Even with the suit on, the fighters felt the blows hard. And I mean really painful! Those men didn’t want to be the ones facing off at the end of each day.

“Only one body area is left exposed and that’s the buttocks. But no true warrior should be hit there anyway, because that means he would have to be running away.”

Reuben says the men also went through life-changing spiritual and emotional journeys through the show. “One said to me that it had made him a better partner and father. There were sometimes tears. It was a huge experience for everyone involved in making it."

The competitors are: Hohua Smith (Ngati Porou, Ngati Kahungunu) from Wellington; Hone Stevens (Ngai Tahu) from Christchurch; Te Rangiparutini Haddon (Ngati Ruanui) from Taranaki; Calib Pomana-Wesley (Ngati Kahungunu) from Wellington; Richard Wharerahi (Te Arawa, Ngati Kahungunu) from Rotorua; Jeremy Murray (Tainui, Ngai Te Rangi) from the Waikato; Terry Watts (Ngapuhi) from Whangarei; Logan Pokai (Ngati Porou, Ngapuhi) from Gisborne; Tipene Rangihuna (Ngati Porou) from Wellington; and Owen Wells (Te Arawa) from Rotorua.

The sensei/judge is Wetini Mitai Ngatai (Te Arawa) and the referee is Tukiterangi Curtis (Ngati Rongomai) who both hail from Rotorua.

Reuben now hopes mau rakau and wheiwheia will grow into an official martial art in Aotearoa. “This is something that has not been seen for centuries in this country. When you watch the series, you soon get an idea of how it must have been done in the old days.”

TOA O AOTEAROA is in reo Maori and English, and fully subtitled so it is accessible to all viewers.

Step back in time and into the ring as 10 challengers battle for the title of ultimate Maori warrior in TOA O AOTEAROA – premiering on Maori Television on Monday March 19 at 9.30 PM.

ENDS

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