Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is issued a wero, or challenge by Maori warriors during a Powhiri ceremony September 21, 2012 while visiting Auckland, New Zealand. Panetta picked up the rakau tapu, or dart while keeping eye contact with the warrior. The ceremony is an ancient Maori tradition used to determine if visitors came in peace or with hostile intent.

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Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is issued a wero, or challenge by Maori warriors during a Powhiri ceremony September 21, 2012 while visiting Auckland, New Zealand. Panetta picked up the rakau tapu, or dart while keeping eye contact with the warrior. The ceremony is an ancient Maori tradition used to determine if visitors came in peace or with hostile intent.

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Size: 5150px × 3426px
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Photo credit: © DOD Photo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: american, auckland, ceremony, challenge, contact, dart, defense, eye, horizontal, islanders, maori, political, politics, powhiri, rakau, secretary, tapu, tradition, usa, warriors, wero