In the Urewera, the waharua is sometimes known as double mouth but on the East Coast its name is whakarua kopito, which alludes to deepening the position of the pito or navel. Its significance relates to the bravery of warriors, indicating that if they are to be wounded by an enemy it should be in the area of the navel so that when they return home their people can seen that they were facing the enemy when struck.
This page reproduces information from page 29 of the booklet Pūawaitanga o te Ringa - Fruits of our busy hands
This panel is on display at Waruwarutū, Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2, Tūranga.
