Maori challenge to the Commanding Officer of 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR), ...

Maori challenge to the Commanding Officer of 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR), 2508 Lieutenant Colonel Alan Lindsay (Alby) Morrison and Hangi barbeque at 161 Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) at Nui Dat. 161 Battery RNZA was the main supporting arm to 9 RAR during its stay in South Vietnam. The Maori challenge is a traditional tribal ritual carried out to test a visitor as a friend or foe. The Maori Warrior places a peace offering at the feet of the visitor, and he may do this as many as three times. As the visitor advances towards the tribal area and picks up the peace offering, the warrior may allow the visitor to come in peace. By facing, the tip, of a spear towards the visitor the Maori Warrior indicates the visitor is not welcome, and if the spear faces away from the visitor, he is welcomed with a feast and a Haka is performed in his honour. The feast consists of a hangi (two pigs and a host of vegetables) cooked in an earth mound over hot coals.