A spot of mayhem with Bloodaxe and the boys

The Auckland Norsemen re-enact a battle scene as part of the Volvo Vikings exhibition. Picture / Dean Purcell

Every weekend a group of Aucklanders, including a pastry chef, a doctor and a jeweller, arm themselves with swords, shields and axes and re-enact battles.

These are the Auckland Norsemen, a re-enactment group who gather at a "training" camp in Henderson to relive Viking scenarios.

The Norsemen, not to be confused with the Vikings, the legendary Scandinavian adventurers, explorers and plunderers, are part of the Auckland museum's Volvo Viking exhibition which will run until October 8.

"We are Norsemen as opposed to Vikings," said Konungr Franush Bloodaxe, the group's leader, who is also known as Frank Kirkham, a self-employed jeweller.

Mr Kirkham said the group, which has a core of between 12 and 24 members, was excited to be a part of the exhibition.

Re-enacting Viking battles was an interest that grew into a passion. The difficulty faced by most re-enactment groups in their initial stages was their struggle in remaining authentic, he said.

They tried to be as accurate as possible in their representation of the Viking era.

"I kind of see it as a cross between kapa haka and fighting with a bit of arts and craft on the side," said Mr Kirkham.

Is the dress code strictly authentic?

"A couple of the guys were going without socks or underpants for a while," he said.