Maipi is the southern indigenous word for what northern iwi/tribes refer to as the taiaha. It is one of several martial tools used by southern warriors to protect their whanau from physical attack during pre-musket warfare. With the advent of firearms the art of maipi and the other weapons fell into decline. However during this same period Ngati Toa and Ngati Tama warriors were warned to not engage the southern warriors in hand to hand or close quarters combat as the southerners were renowned for the effective skills of these ancient arts.

Who were these southern warriors?

Most people when thinking of southern Maori think of Ngai Tahu. This however only describes the most recent fragment of the southern Maori. Long before the Ngai Tahu people ended their journey from Te Tai Rawhiti (the North Island’s East Coast) in Ta Vai Poenemu, the South Island, this land was already occupied by people who claimed there decent from a multitude of early iwi.

Named amongst these people were Maeroero (also called Eroero) later called Rapuwa’i. Also Hawea and Waitaha were here and Kati Wairaki, Tumatakokiri and later Rakitane and Kati Mamoe.

The later two shared common whakapapa with Kai Tahu or Ngai Tahu and also with Waitaha from a period when ancestors common to all three were living and journeying through the North Island (Te Ika No Maui).

These early people contrary to popular belief have not been decimated nor exterminated but have survived till today and indeed make up the majority of the blood coursing through the veins of the modern Ngai Tahu/Kai Tahu people. This has also seen the survival of many pre-Ngai Tahu cultural and artistic nuances including the Maipi and its skills.

Along with Maipi many other weapons were and are still in use by southern Maori. These include the tewhatewha and huata as well as the various patu.

As each new wave of people came into this land the original inhabitants made many adaptations to their way of life by building on what they knew. And so once again as we become familiar with yet another wave we continue to build on the past and move forward.

The move forward with maipi and the other martial tools of these ancients has begun with the development of several new expressions of the old art.

One group of practitioners of these arts is Aroga Whitu.

Aroga Whitu

Aroga Whitu is a group of men and women who all whakapapa back to the original inhabitants of Ta Vai Poenemu. They have spent the past ten years sharing and experimenting with their combined knowledge upskilling themselves and developing a method of passing on these skills.

From this work Aroga Whitu have gathered 18 sets of choreographed forms which hold all the basic key movements of the maipi, patu, tewhatewha, huata and other weapons as well as empty handed self defence methods. With this they have also included several breathing exercises and supplementary drills which help to develop better health and aid in many other areas of physical, mental, spiritual and psychic development. Most importantly they have had and are having fun with their training and development.

Ue-Kaha No Roto

This is the name given to the warrior system that is being taught by Aroga Whitu and refers to the Ultimate Strength which is found within the exponent/ warrior.

The art is transmitted via wanaga / seminars and also by way of private tuition. The next stage of development is underway currently and involves the setting up of a warrior training school in the South Island and growing a warrior network with other warrior traditions here in New Zealand and throughout the world.

Ue-kaha no roto is also being taught openly to non-Maori which is a first for this tradition of the south.

The methods of development inUe-kaha no roto begins with weapons training and progresses to empty handed methods and healing arts. It also encompasses food gathering and preparation as well as many other traditional skills for survival.

Sounds daunting huh? Well it needn’t be, there are 18 sets and each one is a method of its own. So for those who do not want to be the masters of the complete art may choose to take one or two sets and settle for developing these skills.

A line to ancient wisdom.

So with this work of growing new expression from something ancient Aroga Whitu have grasped a line from the past and offered us a chance to reach deep into that past and learn some of the lessons of a people who knew who they were and why.

The real challenge of this journey is to use these gifts to understand ourselves as human beings first and as a part of this world also.

Aroga Whitu has stepped into something wonderful with as much challenge as to keep you interested and motivated to learn and seek more. A journey well worth travelling.