Collection Search

Incomplete adze, broken in 2, part A and B both pieces of the blade (butt is missing). Red waxy substance on broken edges of adze. Adze cross section is lenticular. Surface is ground, except for flaking on back. Butt not present. Bevel continuous with blade. Cutting edge is mostly straight, curves slightly at edges and sharp.

Complete adze. Dark grey and brown stone. Cross-section is circular near the butt and rectangular near the blade. Surface is bruised. Minor differentiation between butt and blade; sides slightly reduced to form shoulders. Bevel is continuous with the blade. Cutting edge is straight and sharp. "Sth. Canterbury" inscription on front

Broken adze, part of blade cutting edge missing. Adze has an oval cross section. Surface is ground on front blade, but becomes more bruised on the back and butt of the adze. Undifferentiated , no distinction between butt and blade. Adze missing a section of the blade and cutting edge on the proper right, while it is chipped on the proper left side. Bevel is demarcated by a curved line. Remaining cutting edge is straight and sharp.

C and D: Set of two poi made of ribbonwood, undecorated with natural fibre colours. Twisted cord attached to each.

Complete tewhatewha. The upper edge of the blade is straight but sloping. The lower edge is of the blade is curved, with a small fragment missing. There is a perforation through the lower blade. There is a small carving mid-way down the shaft of concentric diamonds, four on each side. These diamonds are surrounded by a raised dot pattern that curve around the tewhatewha.

Complete pounamu chisel. The cross section is rectangular. The surface is ground and the back is flaking. The blade has minor demarcation as it tapers towards the poll. The blade is bevelled on both sides and is demarcated by a straight line. The cutting edge is straight and blunt.

Incomplete Trapezoidal cross-section with back narrower than front. Front of blade is ground. Back of blade is ground with flake scar. No differentiation between butt and blade. Blade is broken vertically. Only bevel portion is present. Bevel is continuous. Cutting edge curved and slightly sharp.

Complete waka huia, oval shaped. The waka huia is hollowed out except for the short sides, where a small ledge remains that the lid rests on. The lid is decorated with rauponga whakarare motif in parallel stripes along its length. The lid features a hole in centre for cord attachment, with a small amount of cord in the perforation. On the top of the lid this cord is dyed red, with a small amount hanging out underneath. Base is carved with interlocking rauru spirals occupying most of area with two smaller double spirals in between and raupongo whakarare filling the remaining spaces. Ends have koruru. One faces upwards with a laterally pierced perforation behind for suspension. The other faces downwards, with a laterally pierced perforation behind for suspension. Both have paua shell inlay eyes. On the long sides there are two paua shell inlay circles.

Complete patu paraoa. The handle has a circular perforation with wood inserted, below this is a circular perforation in the butt.

Complete taiaha. Proximal end carved with human face in high relief on each side. Paua shell inlay in eyes. Protruding tongue has a rauru (double spiral with notches) pattern. Centre of taiaha and distal end of the blade has bands of rauponga (groove and notch) pattern.

Complete wooden tokotoko. Cross-section is circular at one end and square at the other. Square end is carved with a set of pakura (spirals and crescents) on each side. Below the pakura are oval paua shell inlays, two intact and two missing, and an incomplete carved rauponga (ridge and notch) pattern. A face with paua shell eyes is carved near the other end. Another face, more simply carved and without paua shell, is carved on the butt, with a projecting, rounded tongue.

Complete kāheru or ketu (digging stick or cultivating tool). Mid-brown wood with dark orange paint or varnish residue. Surface is smooth. Cross-section is round at the handle and lenticular at the blade. Handle is straight and sawn across at the proximal edge. Blade is tapered at both ends and flattened on the back. Distal edge comes to a dull point, lightly cracked and chipped with usewear visible.

Complete kāheru or ketu (digging stick or cultivating tool). Mid-brown wood with a dark orange paint or varnish residue. Surface is smooth. Cross-section is oval at the handle and lenticular at the blade. Handle is straight and sawn across the proximal edge. Blade is flattened on one side and tapered at both ends, coming to a point at the distal edge.

Complete kāheru or ketu (digging stick or cultivating tool). Mid-brown wood with dark orange paint or varnish residue. Cross-section is round at the handle and lenticular at the blade. Surface is smooth. Handle is straight and has been sawn at the proximal edge. Blade is tapered at each end and flattened on one side. Blade was cracked and then repaired with a gummed cord near the distal edge. The distal edge is chipped.

Pounamu/nephrite hei tiki. Mid green with blue undertones and black in carved lines. Highly polished surface, low transparency. Carved on both front and back surfaces. Two perforations drilled on both sides are placed in close proximity near top of forehead. Natural cracks on chest on one side which run up to shoulder. One side has complete paua shell inset in one eye and broken in other eye. Other side has is missing paua shell insets. Arms with distinctive elbows rest on thighs, no defined hands or fingers. Legs brought together underneath body with three toes either side. Female genitalia displayed one side only and accentuated by three grooves radiating out across both thighs.

Complete waka huia. Lid is carved in a rauponga whakarare style, with elaborate female figures on each end. The ends of the lid terminate of each end at the neck of the human figure, with the head being on the knobs of the box portion of the waka huia. Heads have carved eyes, though one head has only one carved eye. There are circular paua shell inlay at each end of the shoulder and knee joints of the figures' bodies on the lid. Heads have upturned faces, with carved forehead, lips, and one figure's tongue. The heads were previously broken off, now repaired with wax carved and coloured to match. There are two shallow knobs, one at end short end of the lid, that fit into interior grooves of the box. The box of the waka huia is also carved in a raupongo whakarare style. Made from matai it has a deep black/red colour with a rich patina. There are three intact huia feathers inside.

Small oval soapstone pebble. Brown green in colour with hole drilled in centre. Perforation has very straight sides and has been made with metal tools. One side has been ground flat.

Complete composite fishhook consisting of two curved pieces of paua shell lashed together with muka. Additional muka lashings at the head, attached to a twisted muka cord. Modern metal nail through lashings at base.

Complete adze. Stone. Black. Cross-section is rectangular. Surface is ground. Undifferentiated between butt and blade, sides taper towards poll. Proper left of back poll reduced. Bevel is continuous with blade, cutting edge is sharp and curved. ?Auck/Taranaki written on front.

Complete patu paraoa. Shallow ornamental grooves and perforation at butt. Chip on the proximal end of the butt. There are two natural grooves/perforations running the length of the blade.