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Story: Musket wars

Haka with muskets

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Haka with muskets

This watercolour by Joseph Merrett was made around 1845. It shows a haka where some warriors hold traditional weapons – the mere pounamu (greenstone club) and taiaha (fighting staff) – and others hold contemporary weapons – the pātītī (hatchet) and pū (musket).

Using this item

National Library of Australia

Reference: nla.pic-an2948236-v

by Joseph Merrett

Permission of the National Library of Australia must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Musket wars – Acquisition and use of muskets, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/38079/haka-with-muskets (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 23 May 2012.