karaka whati
1. (noun) ritual before war - an ancient ritual performed over warriors before they went off to war. The warriors were sprinkled with water, and touched with a karaka leaf.
Tohua ana a Hēnare ki te tikanga pure o te karaka whati, he tikanga whakatakataka i te toa mō te pakanga (TTR 2000:70). / Hēnare underwent the ritual of karaka whati, a practice preparing a warrior for battle.
