Collection Search

Five pronged eel fork (matarau tune). Outside tines are longer than the internal tines. The tines are pointed at distal end and notched at proximal end so tines can be bound and secured. Heavily bound at top with plain harakeke/flax with woven chord extending from centre tie point. Tines evenly spaced with plain harakeke at middle.

Complete wooden patu aruhe (beater for preparing fern root). Possibly kowhai, plain triangular shaped head (irregularly rounded) with bruised front face ridge. Ridge at rear which tapers down to a round handle. A small burn site at butt end of handle which is also irregularly rounded.

Wooden patu aruhe (beater for preparing fern root), possibly kowhai. Narrow blade, ending in curved edge. Cross-section is oval. Blade tapers slightly to handle. Handle ends with a rounded knob.

Wooden digging stick, pointed at each end. Dark brown with a smooth, varnished surface.

Broken wooden digging stick, distal end remaining, which tapers to a dull point. Point has a lenticular cross section. There is an oval perforation about one-third from the remaining end.

Broken hoe (waka paddle), grip missing. The shaft thickens slightly at the throat and continues as a ridge a short distance down the front of the blade. The blade has been broken and glued back together approximately 1/4 of the way from the shaft. The blade is flat on the front but convex on the back. The tip is chipped.

Complete wooden pouwhenua. The mata (point) end is decorated with light whakairo (carving). The carving style is atypical, with the grooves not being deep enough to form true haehae (carved ridges). The rau (blade) end is curved and there is chipping along the edge. There are surface fractures running the length of the shaft.

Wooden carved wheku/koruru. Painted dark red and carved with a rauponga (grooves and notches) pattern around the figure's mouth, nostrils, and top of the forehead. Paua shell inlaid into slanted eyes. Distal end comes to a point, indicating a protruding tongue; five teeth depicted. Two perforations at the mouth. Back side has a piece of wood protruding as well as two metal hooks tied with wire for suspension.

Large piece of worked wood with two prongs, use unclear. Surface is rough and cracked, with natural knots still visible.

Complete hoe (paddle). The blade is broken with a crack running approximately half way up the blade. There is chipping along the tip. The shaft tapers in at the throat and has been repaired at this taper with opaque glue. The shaft also tapers in at the grip. There is a large chip broken off the shaft, originating at the grip.

Broken adze haft, distal end remaining. Wood is cracked and dessicated. Platform at distal end is carved at a slant to the handle.

Mussel dredge handle, consisting of a long, slightly curved pole with a hook-like projection at one end for attaching the dredge.

Complete patu aruhe (fern root beater). Cracks extend from shoulder to blade edge on both sides. Burnt mark on front and on butt of handle. Chip out of front right side of blade. Rounded head with lenticular cross-section. Long smooth handle with round cross-section.

Long piece of worked wood. Surface is worked smooth. Piece is relatively thing and narrow. One end has a curved projection with an incomplete perforation (chisel marks evident).

Large piece of worked wood. Surface is worked smooth but some chisel marks evident. Slightly concave, with a ridge running the length of one side. Two perforations near one edge.

Broken paepae (outer threshold of pataka). Made of dark wood, possibly stained. There is one complete male figure in profile on the lower portion of the paepae, head is horizontal. Above this figure on the proper right side there is a leg of a second figure, the rest of which does not remain. These details are carved in taratara a kae style. There are three large perforations on the proper left side, and two smaller perforations on the proper right side. There is a projection on the bottom of the paepae on the proper right side.

Dark wooden tewhatewha. Two perforations on the blade. Chips broken off of proximal end. Handle broadens about halfway down. Tapers at the base, with a gold metal hooped nail at the end.

Wooden adze haft. Handle is round in cross section. Platform on the distal end, at an angle from the handle. Notch at the end for lashing. Twisted fibre lashings on the handle and part of the platform.

Complete pouwhenua. Light brown wooden surface is undecorated, smooth, and polished. Pointed at proximal end. Relatively narrow blade, flattened with rounded edge.

Complete maul (mallet) with handle - round in cross section. Maul head has deep recession, approximately 11x5x4.5cm deep with lip flush with handle. There is a deeper perforation in the bottom of this recession. On the outer sides of the maul head there are six longitudinal and parallel grooves along three sides of head. Burnt and charred in places on head. The handle is round and smooth, with a slight knob at the proximal end.