Collection Search

Dentalium shell necklace bead. Broken at both ends and hollow in the centre. Grooves running the length of the shell.

Complete straight fishhook point. Barbed with notch at barb. Knob and notch at base.

Complete tatā (canoe bailer) made of a split whalebone. Large bulbous end made from the epiphysis of the bone, tapering to a straight, open pouring edge. Exterior side of the epiphysis has a mouth and protruding tongue carving and decorative geometric patterns. Handle curved over the top, with a human face (spiral eyes, nose, lips and tongue) indicated at the end. Surface has been polished on one side, and is burnt on the epiphysis and on the handle. Holes at the epiphysis. Has previously been broken and repaired at the pouring edge. Identified as a fake, not of authentic Māori origin.

Complete hue (gourd container or calabash) with bulbous base and relatively small, narrow neck. Single, square perforation at base of neck and remnant of vine stem at the top. Fibre cord twisted and knotted around gourd (dividing body into 8 areas) with the three individual cords held together above the neck. Rattles.

Complete needle. Distal end is sharp. There is a drilled, circular eye at the proximal end. Small fragment missing from proximal end.

Complete wooden tatā (canoe bailer). There is a large curved handle with a simple manaia carved into the handle knob. Where the handle meets the bailer there is a large mouth carving. At the funnel end of the bailer there are two curved ridges. The walls of the bailer are high and straight. There are several cracks where the walls meet the base. Wood is stained dark red.

Complete taiaha. The arero (tongue) is decorated with rauponga style carving (rows alternating with notches) on both sides. The upoko (head) has two sets of inset eyes. One eye retains paua shell, the other three have red sealing wax remaining. The rau (nose) is rounded and bears marks of use.

Complete paddle. Handle oval in section and expands gently to blade. Proximal end has a long, diamond cross-sectioned knob that comes to a point. Sides of blade widen near the distal end, and then taper approximately 70cm from the end. Blade has longitudinal central ridge on front and back.

Complete kahawai lure. Curved wooden shank with notches at head and base. Muka lashings across notches and cord at head. Paua shell inlay. Bone point is complete and straight with internal barb. Orange and yellow feathers attached by lashings at the base.

Complete bone bird spear point. Two barbs.

Twisted strand of muka (flax) fibre.

Complete composite fishhook. Curved wooden shank with large bone point attached with muka lashings. Bone point is straight with and incurved tip and three external barbs and one internal barb. Lower external barb and internal barb have two notches on them. Additional muka lashings twisted around the head.

Complete teka (footrest) for a kō (digging stick). Single piece of mid brown wood, with step and base at a 90-degree angle from each other. Step is sawn flat at the top end and base tapers to the bottom end, with a chip missing from the edge. Base has a projection with a perforation for lashing. Surface is smooth with chisel marks evident.

Complete wooden patu (club). The head has a hole drilled through it, with a split originating from the hole. The handle is formed by a reduction of the head, with minor demarcation for a grip at the end of the handle. There is no ornamentation.

Complete straight fishhook point. Internal barb at tip. Serrations along base.

Broken fishhook point, broken at base. Previously broken at tip, now fixed. Incurved point.

Broken tattoo chisel, lower portion remaining. Hafting end not present. Cutting edge is sharp and curved, one side chipped. There are longitudinal striations along lower portion to cutting edge.

Complete bone bird spear point. One lateral margin has three barbs. The tip narrows to a sharp point.

Complete unworked seal tooth. Point chipped off.

Complete unworked seal tooth. Point blunt.