Warfare

The traditional narratives available do not record any wars. As the people lived in one village in Rakahanga and two in Manihiki, instead of separating to the various islands, the contention that active fighting of a serious nature was unknown is feasible. At the same time, individual and family disputes must have occurred, for certain people were referred to as toa (warriors) who were armed. It was evidently their duty to enforce the keeping of tapus and prohibitions concerning food-producing islands that were closed to enable crops to recover. The weapons consisted of spears and two forms of clubs.