page_title: Mau rākau
section_title: Mythology
hierarchical_section_title: Mau rākau / Mythology
caption_attribution_description: Tattooed back of a Māori Chief, New Zealand, 19th century
context_page_description: Mau rākau, meaning "to bear a weapon", is a martial art based on traditional Māori weapons.
context_section_description: It is said weapons including the taiaha and patu were handed down by Tāne, god of the forest and  Tū, god of war, the two sons of Rangi-nui and Papatūānuku. The Whare-tū-taua (House of war) is a term which covers the basics of educating young toa (warriors) in the arts of war.
caption: A man holding a tao
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