Tātua
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Etymology
"Tātua" is a Māori language word meaning "belt".[3]
Traditional use
Māori warriors were famously known for wearing only a maro (kilt) and a tātua during battle.[4] Traditional tātua are made of harakeke (flax) and used to carry tools or weapons. A tātua sits across the abdomen and can be passed on from generation to generation.[5]
Tātua kotara are broad plaited belts used as a defence against spears in the period before a mortal combat.[6]
See also
- Māori traditional textiles
- Matthew McIntyre-Wilson (contemporary weaver of tātua)
