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Story: Traditional Māori warfare – Riri

Warrior with mere

These images show a warrior in various positions with a mere (club). In two of the drawings the warrior holds a puapua (protective padding). In the third drawing he defeats his opponent with a thrust to the head with the end of the mere.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-110-033-4 (left)

by Augustus Koch

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Traditional Māori warfare – Riri – Strategies and battle terms, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/37118/warrior-with-mere (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 14 June 2012.