There are a diverse collection of objects that represent the

culture and history of the Maori people of New Zealand. These artefacts vary in

type, style, and function, and include the following:

Weapons: Maori weapons were traditionally made from wood,

bone, and stone, and included clubs, spears, and weapons with serrated edges,

such as the patu and mere.

Carvings: Maori carvings are highly symbolic and often

depict stories and legends from Maori mythology. These carvings can be found on

buildings, canoes, and other objects, and are often intricately detailed.

Jewellery: Maori jewellery often features intricate designs

and is made from materials such as bone, stone, and shell. Pendants, earrings,

and bracelets are all common forms of Maori jewellery.

Taonga puoro (musical instruments): These are traditional

Maori musical instruments, such as the p?t?tara (conch shell trumpet) and the

k?auau (flute). Maori music is an important more...

Under the New Zealand Protected Objects Act 1975, administered by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture & Heritage, the sale, trade, export and ownership of some Maori artefact are regulated
Objects over 50 years old that also have Maori cultural significance must be inspected by Ministry for Culture & Heritage, and if significant the object will be allocated a "Y" number, a unique identification number. Artefacts that have a Y number can only be purchased by those that are registered collectors with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

28 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Tewhatewha, long handled fighting staff, carved from medium…

Tewhatewha, long handled fighting staff, carved from medium brown wood, perforated hole on inner staff. Long tapered shaft, wheku figure carved with shell inlaid eyes, almost halfway up. Small chip to butt end. Length 135.4 cm. Provenance: Estate of John…

Tewhatewha, long handled fighting staff, carved from dark brown…

Tewhatewha, long handled fighting staff, carved from dark brown wood with a rich patina, perforated suspension hole on inner edge of the blade. Long tapered shaft, with three grooves carved a quarter of the way up, large chip to butt end. Length 132.5 cm.…

A tewhatewha carved with Kowhaiwhai and koru motifs, 151 cm…

Kowhaiwhai and Koru Tewhatewha

A tewhatewha carved with Kowhaiwhai and koru motifs, 151 cm height

A tewhatewha, carved wood with feather and shell adornment, 137…

Feathered Tewhatewha: Carved Wood with Shell Adornments

A tewhatewha, carved wood with feather and shell adornment, 137 cm height

19th century pouwhenua (long handled pointed fighting staff),…

Carved 19th Century Pouwhenua Fighting Staff

19th century pouwhenua (long handled pointed fighting staff), with a carved tapering pointed blade with haehae and whakarare decoration. The center of the handle with a finely carved wheku head with paua shell eyes. The handle terminating in a further…

Tewhatewha (long handed fighting club), the slender tapering…

Rauponga-carved Tewhatewha with Feathers and Wheku Head

Tewhatewha (long handed fighting club), the slender tapering shaft with four bands of fine rauponga carving. The back of the flanged blade carved with a wheku head. The blade pierced with attached feathers. 114 cm length

Tewhatewha (long handled fighting staff), rich dark patina with…

Dark Patina Tewhatewha with Carved Wheku Head

Tewhatewha (long handled fighting staff), rich dark patina with the slender tapering shaft displaying a carved wheku head to the lower section. Suspension hole for decoration to the flanged blade. 114 cm length.

A Maori tewhatewha, fine tewhatewha of elegant proportions.…

Elegant Maori Tewhatewha Axe

A Maori tewhatewha, fine tewhatewha of elegant proportions. Constructed from the root of a hardwood tree, this tewhatewha has the distinctive axe shaped rapa (blade) with a scarce curved top leading to a fine flattened handle and mata (spear-point). The…

A 19th century tewhatewha with hawk bundles, fine tewhatewha in…

Hawk Feathered Tewhatewha on Presentation Stand

A 19th century tewhatewha with hawk bundles, fine tewhatewha in orthodox form with axe shaped blade leading to a flattened cylindrical shaft and spear point. Below the distinctive blade of the tewhatewha hangs an early ball of karearea (New Zealand…

Tewhatewha (long handled fighting staff), the slender tapering…

Wheku-headed Tewhatewha with Feathers

Tewhatewha (long handled fighting staff), the slender tapering shaft with four bands of fine rauponga carving and pataki(dog tooth notching) . The back of the flanged blade unusually carved with a wheku head. The blade pieced with attached feathers, small…

19th century tewhatewha (long handled weapon), possibly totara…

Antique Tewhatewha with Carved Face Band, 139cm Long

19th century tewhatewha (long handled weapon), possibly totara hard wood with a burr to the blade carved face band to the shaft with a drilled suspension hole to blade, 139 cm long

A 19th century Maori carved tewhatewha. Extensive haehae and…

Maori Carved Tewhatewha with Double Weku Masks

A 19th century Maori carved tewhatewha. Extensive haehae and pakati carving to blade, double weku masks to shaft with paua shell inset. Drilled suspension hole to blade. Height 120 cm

A whalebone tewhatewha, with distal blade extension and…

Whalebone Tewhatewha with Weku Head Inlay

A whalebone tewhatewha, with distal blade extension and tapering shaft carved with a profile weku head inlaid with paua ring eyes to either side, length 100 cm. Y registered. From the Collection of Hannah Martha Dillon, nee Carkeek (1881-1963).

A Maori club (Tewhatewha), New Zealand, 19th century, carved…

Maori Tewhatewha Club, 19th Century

A Maori club (Tewhatewha), New Zealand, 19th century, carved wood, 175 cm long

A Maori club, 19th century, New Zealand, tewhatewha / tewatewa.…

Maori Tewhatewha Club, 19th Century, Private Collection Melbourne

A Maori club, 19th century, New Zealand, tewhatewha / tewatewa. Provenance: Private Collection Melbourne, length 149 cm

Tewhatewha - two handled Weapon 19th century, simple carved…

19th Century Two-Handled Tewhatewha Weapon with Carved Decoration

Tewhatewha - two handled Weapon 19th century, simple carved decoration to shaft, hole to blade for suspending feathers, length 111 cm. Provenance: Neil Darroch collection

Early Tewhatewha. Orthodox form with 'axe' type head, stone…

Stone-tooled Tewhatewha with Abstracted Mania Design

Early Tewhatewha. Orthodox form with 'axe' type head, stone tooled with a deep rich patina, a pierced hole with attached feathers and the shaft decorated with softly carved abstracted mania design. Length 120.5 cm. Width 17.4 cm

Tewhatewha. Highly carved ceremonial tewhatewha finely…

Koru-Inspired Tewhatewha with Paua Inlay

Tewhatewha. Highly carved ceremonial tewhatewha finely decorated with koru inspired haehae and pataki with inlaid paua to shaft. Length 120 cm. Width 14 cm

Early tewhatewha. Orthodox form with 'Axe' type head, stone…

Stone-tooled Tewhatewha with Abstracted Mania Design

Early tewhatewha. Orthodox form with 'Axe' type head, stone tooled with a deep rich patina, a pierced hole for attachment of feathers and the shaft decorated with softly carved abstracted mania design. Length 126 cm. Width 16.5 cm.

Prestigious tewhatewha, of superb and well-balanced form with a…

Exquisite Tewhatewha with Deep Carvings and Rich Patina

Prestigious tewhatewha, of superb and well-balanced form with a deeply carved detail to shaft. Pierced hole to large and well proportioned head. Soft, rich, dark brown patina. Length 138 cm. Width 19 cm

Tewhatewha, of orthodox form with long tapering shaft. Pierced…

Orthodox Tewhatewha with Feather Attachment Hole

Tewhatewha, of orthodox form with long tapering shaft. Pierced hole in striking head for attachment of feathers. Dark, rich patina. Length 1146 cm. Width 14 cm

Chiefly tewhatewha, of superb and well-balanced form with a…

Superb Tewhatewha with Hawk Feathers

Chiefly tewhatewha, of superb and well-balanced form with a deeply carved detail to shaft, pierced hole to head with two bundles of attached hawk feathers. Deep, rich, dark brown, smokey patina. Length 134 cm. Width 16.6 cm

A Maori tewhatewha with three carvings to shaft. C.1900. Length…

Maori Tewhatewha with Carved Shaft, c.1900

A Maori tewhatewha with three carvings to shaft. C.1900. Length 115 cm

A contact period Maori tewhatewha, with a carved ridge nearer…

Carved Maori Tewhatewha with Provenance

A contact period Maori tewhatewha, with a carved ridge nearer the point, the blade with an old wood split on top edge and a straight hole drilled at the bottom curved edge. Provenance: Purchased from Webb's, 2008. Prior to sale, was held in one family…

A Maori tewhatewha, with fine patina. Pierced hole with bunch…

Maori Tewhatewha with Feather Attachment and Carving

A Maori tewhatewha, with fine patina. Pierced hole with bunch of feathers attached and carving toward bottom. Length 121 cm

A finely carved 19th century Maori tewhatewha. Carved with…

19th Century Maori Tewhatewha with Paua Inlays

A finely carved 19th century Maori tewhatewha. Carved with spirals, fern shapes, criss cross etc. Two paua shell inlays (80% carved) by a master carver. (good quality, Taranaki style). Provenance: Purchased at Dunbar Sloane Auckland, 2005. Length 120 cm

Tewhatewha Orthodox form with plate-shaped head leading to a…

Plate-Head Tewhatewha with Rich Patina

Tewhatewha Orthodox form with plate-shaped head leading to a flattened cylindrical shaft. Rich, dark-brown patina. Length 1250, width 16 cm

A Maori tewhatewha, mid-brown wood, with distal blade extension…

Maori Tewhatewha with Hawk Feathers

A Maori tewhatewha, mid-brown wood, with distal blade extension and tapering shaft carved with an incipient weku head. A bunch of hawk feathers attached to suspension hole in the blade. Length 134 cm