New Zealand » Objects
Patu Paraoa
The Patu Paraoa was initially carved for a production in 1996 and has been subsequently used in 3 more productions. This Patu is based on a type of traditional Maori short club which was used in close quarter hand to hand combat. These weapons were varied in size and were carved from a range of material including whale bone hard woods and in some cases stone, including Pounamu a type of jade found in NZ. Some patu were eventually named and recounted the exploits of the user. When used in productions, this Patu is treated as if it were an actual traditional weapon. Certain protocols are attached to the use of Maori weaponry and these are carried through to the contemporary setting. In some way this weapon and others have become more than just a prop and have to be treated by the performers as if it were an actual artifact. As the designer I keep all the traditional weapons that I make to ensure that they are treated with the dignity that the actual weapons they are based on deserve.