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.

68 items found:

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

Ketu, early 19th century agricultural tool, carved wooden…

Ketu, early 19th century agricultural tool, carved wooden paddle shaped tool, used to loosen soil around plants, abrasions to point of the digging end, length 76 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Ketu, wooden digging implement, dark brown wood, oval handle,…

Ketu, wooden digging implement, dark brown wood, oval handle, with single suspension hole, short rounded shaft and paddle shaped blade, length 45 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Ketu, wooden digging implement, dark brown wood, oval handle…

Ketu, wooden digging implement, dark brown wood, oval handle and single suspension hole, short rounded edged shaft, paddle shaped blade, length 39.6 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Ketu (digging implement), with tapering shaft and paddle shaped…

Ketu (digging implement), with tapering shaft and paddle shaped blade. Used for loosening the soil around kumara plants. Some small chips to the blade, length 47 cm.

Small miniature paddle, with horizontal 'Guard' detail,…

Small miniature paddle, with horizontal 'Guard' detail, possibly Micronesian, length 53.2 cm

A contemporary carved Maori short waka hoe by Richard (Rangi)…

A contemporary carved Maori short waka hoe by Richard (Rangi) Redman, the blade back carved with two masks and swirling and notched designs, the butt with further mask, paua insert eyes. Monogrammed to the reverse, length 75 cm.

A Samoan paddle Club

Samoan Paddle Warriors

A Samoan paddle Club

A Buka Island paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Buka Island, Papua New Guinea

A Buka Island paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle, 177 cm length

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to both side of the blade and figural finial to the top of paddle, 164 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Ramu River Ancestor Paddle

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle, 161 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, 170 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle with concentric bands to the top, 196 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle with concentric bands to the top, 206 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Ramu River, PNG

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle, 184 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, concentric bands carved to top of the handle, 190 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle, 207 cm length

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade and figural finial to the top of paddle, 172 cm length

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Ramu River, PNG

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade and figural finial to the top of paddle, 195 cm length

A small ornamental hoe (paddle), displaying a carved wheku…

Paua-eyed Wheku Ornamental Hoe

A small ornamental hoe (paddle), displaying a carved wheku figure with inlaid paua eyes and hands clasped to belly, 47 cm length.

A ceremonial paddle carved wood, Borneo origins, with…

Borneo Carved Paddle with Stand - 110cm

A ceremonial paddle carved wood, Borneo origins, with accompanying stand, 110 cm high

An 'Oe paddle, Cook Islands, used to steer and propell canoes…

Cook Islands 'Oe Paddle for Canoe Propulsion and Steering

An 'Oe paddle, Cook Islands, used to steer and propell canoes through water. This 'Oe is carved from a single piece of wood and is comprised of a long shaft and a leaf-shaped blade. Length 162 cm, width 17.5 cm

A waka hoe, Aotearoa, early waka paddle. This paddle adorned…

Early Missionary Script Waka Paddle

A waka hoe, Aotearoa, early waka paddle. This paddle adorned with early missionary script 'Narr Iiii' is of well balanced proportions. In the early contact years, many taonga were adorned with simple phrases or words as M_ori integrated their learnings…

A swamp recovered Ketu (digging stick) and paddle. Provenance:…

Ketu and Paddle from Swamp Recovery

A swamp recovered Ketu (digging stick) and paddle. Provenance: field collection, Ketu; 71 cm, paddle; 64 cm length

19th century hoe (paddle), traditional form with long…

19th Century Traditional Hoe with Ridged Handle

19th century hoe (paddle), traditional form with long cylindrical shaft terminating in a ridged handle. Small loss to the end of the blade. 144 cm length.

19th century hoe (paddle), traditional form with long…

Whale-tailed Hoe

19th century hoe (paddle), traditional form with long cylindrical shaft terminating in a ridged handle. The back of the blade with incised abstract design suggesting the tail of whale. 210 cm length. Y number pending

A 20th century ceremonial paddle, carved with a figure with…

Wheku Manaia Paddle

A 20th century ceremonial paddle, carved with a figure with wheku head and manaia. 76 cm length

A Melanesian carved wood ceremonial paddle., 140 cm long

Melanesian Carved Wood Ceremonial Paddle - 140cm

A Melanesian carved wood ceremonial paddle., 140 cm long

A totara waka hoe dance stick, ngati Raukawa, carved from a…

Totara Waka Hoe Dance Stick from Ngati Raukawa

A totara waka hoe dance stick, ngati Raukawa, carved from a single piece of wood. It would have once had paua shell inlay eyes, however they are now gone. Of the Leslie Adkin collection. Length 24.5 cm, width 5.5 cm. Preveiously of the Leslie Adkin…

A waka hoe, Aotearoa. This paddle is carved from a dense…

Aotearoa's Lanceolate Waka Paddle

A waka hoe, Aotearoa. This paddle is carved from a dense hardwood. With a lanceolate blade, long slender shaft that terminates in a knob. Length 158 cm, width 15.2 cm

A waka hoe, Aotearoa. This paddle is carved from a dense…

Dense Hardwood Waka Paddle from Aotearoa

A waka hoe, Aotearoa. This paddle is carved from a dense hardwood with a dark brown patina. With a lanceolate blade with a dip in its form, a long slender shaft that terminates in a rounded knob. Length 172 cm, width 13.5 cm

A waka hoe, Aotearoa. This paddle is carved from a dense…

Aotearoa's Lanceolate Hardwood Paddle

A waka hoe, Aotearoa. This paddle is carved from a dense hardwood. With a lanceolate blade, long slender shaft that terminates in a cylindrical knob. Length 143 cm, width 12.4 cm

Hoe (paddle), with leaf shaped blade and tapering slender shaft.…

Chipped Leaf Paddle, 150cm Length

Hoe (paddle), with leaf shaped blade and tapering slender shaft. Chipped to the central section of the blade, 150 cm length

Ketu (digging implement), with tapering shaft and paddle shaped…

Ketu: Paddle-shaped digging tool for Kumara plants

Ketu (digging implement), with tapering shaft and paddle shaped blade. Used for loosening the soil around Kumara plants, length 54 cm

Ketu (digging implement), with tapering shaft and paddle shaped…

Ketu: Kumara Plant Loosening Tool

Ketu (digging implement), with tapering shaft and paddle shaped blade. Used for loosening the soil around Kumara plants, length 61 cm

Unusual hoe (paddle), with leaf shaped blade and long slender…

Leaf-shaped paddle with spiral motif

Unusual hoe (paddle), with leaf shaped blade and long slender shaft with knob form terminal. Small spiral motif carved into the blade. Provenance: found stored in a barn in Papakura, Auckland in 1910. Private collection Waikato, 190 cm length.

A late nineteenth century Maori hoe, ceremonial paddle, finely…

Maori Carved Ceremonial Paddle with Tiki Heads

A late nineteenth century Maori hoe, ceremonial paddle, finely and extensively carved all over to leaf-shaped blade and handle. The convex side of the blade with finely carved tiki heads with inlaid paua eyes and the reverse with rauponga patterning. The…

A contemporary waka hoe paddle. Carved from a single piece of…

Koru-Designed Waka Hoe Paddle

A contemporary waka hoe paddle. Carved from a single piece of wood with a dark brown patina. The handle of the paddle is a short cylindrical butt on a long shaft. The blade of the waka hoe is leaf shaped and has a raised medial line running central with…

A pre European waka hoe. This Maori steering paddle is known…

Maori Waka Hoe with Carved Manaia Butt

A pre European waka hoe. This Maori steering paddle is known commonly as a waka hoe, or a canoe paddle-and is sometimes referred to by Maori as a whakatere. A unique feature of this paddle is the carved manaia butt. Waka hoe of this ilk usually have only…

A pre European waka hoe. This pre-European example of a longer…

Pre-European Maori steering paddle

A pre European waka hoe. This pre-European example of a longer Maori steering paddle, known as a hoe whakahaere. These longer steering paddles, in pre-European times were usually made of kahikatea wood, which withstood the water and was also suitably…

A carved hoe, shaped like a small hoe paddle. Carved from wood…

Paua Shell Inlaid Carved Wooden Hoe Paddle

A carved hoe, shaped like a small hoe paddle. Carved from wood with paua shell inlay. Length 60 cm, width 8 cm

A rare pre-European Northland papahou (treasure box), stone…

Rare Northland Papahou Treasure Box with Female Figures

A rare pre-European Northland papahou (treasure box), stone tool carved. Robustly decorated to the underside of the box with two female figures, each in an opposing flexed stance with wheku form heads protruding from each end of the box. The heads are…

Fine and unusual 19th century hoe (paddle), classic form with…

Wheku-faced paddle with carved figure and spiral decoration

Fine and unusual 19th century hoe (paddle), classic form with long cylindrical shaft terminating in a carved figure with wheku face and with folded legs clasped by his arms with pakura (spiral) decoration. The back of the blade with faint inscription…

A pair of hardwood Dyak Paddles, Borneo, Indonesia (2), with…

Borneo Dyak Paddles with Incised Design - Pair

A pair of hardwood Dyak Paddles, Borneo, Indonesia (2), with incised design to paddle blades, length 134 cm and 153 cm

Small wooden club, together with mid 20th century carved kauri…

Wooden Club and Carved Kauri Paddle Set

Small wooden club, together with mid 20th century carved kauri hand held paddle, 38 cm 41 cm long

A finely carved hoe, Maori ceremonial paddle with orthodox…

Maori ceremonial paddle by Tene Waitere with ancestral figures

A finely carved hoe, Maori ceremonial paddle with orthodox leaf-shaped blade fully decorated on both sides attributed to Tene Waitere (ngati tarawhai). The front carved in deep relief with three ancestral figures, each with cut paua shell eyes decorated…

Late 19th century hoe (paddle), plain design, 180 cm long

Plain 19th Century Hoe Paddle, 180cm Long

Late 19th century hoe (paddle), plain design, 180 cm long

A tribal paddle, carved wood, Vanuatu origin, 19th century, 111…

Vanuatu Tribal Paddle, 19th Century

A tribal paddle, carved wood, Vanuatu origin, 19th century, 111 cm long

Two early 20th century Massim lime Spatulae. Paddle form, both…

Early 20th Century Massim Lime Spatulae with Figural Terminals

Two early 20th century Massim lime Spatulae. Paddle form, both with figural terminals. Use patination. Length 32 cm (longest)

A Maori souvenir carved waka paddle, the blade in low relief…

Maori Carved Waka Paddle with Tiki and Wheku Figures

A Maori souvenir carved waka paddle, the blade in low relief with a tiki figure above a wheku head, the terminal knob as an elongated wheku head, length 113 cm.

An old Maori wooden hoe (paddle), plain form, evidence of…

Matamata Maori Swamp Hoe

An old Maori wooden hoe (paddle), plain form, evidence of deterioration consistent with a swamp find. Reputedly from the Matamata district. Length 177 cm. Registered Y20376.

A superb hoe, Maori ceremonial paddle, Mid/Late-19th century,…

Maori ceremonial paddle with intricate carvings and paua eyes

A superb hoe, Maori ceremonial paddle, Mid/Late-19th century, large and impressive ceremonial paddle, distinguished by the remarkable wealth of carved decoration. The convex front of the blade features mirrored mangopare as part of the kowhaiwhai design,…

A decoratively carved Maori hoe (paddle), the lanceolate shaped…

Carved Maori Paddle with Inlaid Paua Piece

A decoratively carved Maori hoe (paddle), the lanceolate shaped blade decorated with rauponga and other lineal and notch carvings to one blade face along with a small inlaid paua piece. The shaft with similar carving to a section, the terminal knob carved…

A 19th century Maori hoe (canoe paddle), long steering type,…

19th Century Maori Long Steering Hoe

A 19th century Maori hoe (canoe paddle), long steering type, the lanceolate blade with adzed finish (reglued cracks), the tapering shaft terminating in a simple terminal knob, length 158 cm. Provenance: Private Waikato estate collection.

A 20th century Maori souvenir carved paddle, the blade back…

Maori souvenir paddle with high relief carvings

A 20th century Maori souvenir carved paddle, the blade back carved in high relief with multiple profile heads, the shaft with figures. Some faults, length 60 cm

A paddle club, carved hardwood, Pacific islands, early to mid…

Pacific Island Carved Hardwood Paddle Club (9 words)

A paddle club, carved hardwood, Pacific islands, early to mid 20th century, 93 cm long

Forged hoe, impressed HCC

HCC Forged Hoe

Forged hoe, impressed HCC

20th century paddle ornately carved inset with paua, 157 cm…

Paua-Inlaid Ornate Paddle, 157 cm Length

20th century paddle ornately carved inset with paua, 157 cm length

Maori wooden patu, the paddle with a carved pattern, the…

Maori Patu Paddle with Carved Pattern and Bone Inset

Maori wooden patu, the paddle with a carved pattern, the figurative pommel inset with bone and paua shell eyes, on a platted cord with a bone bead, length 40 cm

Carved hoe (paddle), of typical form with slender blade, Y16358

Slender Blade Carved Hoe Paddle

Carved hoe (paddle), of typical form with slender blade, Y16358

Hoe. Superb example with fine band of carving displaying triple…

Triple Haehae Pataki Carved Maori Taiaha

Hoe. Superb example with fine band of carving displaying triple haehae and pataki design which decorate the mid area of the handle. Mid-brown patina. Length 157 cm. Width 13.3 cm. Y Registration Pending

Hoe. Early example with a strong handle and fine slender blade.…

Fine Slender Blade with Strong Handle

Hoe. Early example with a strong handle and fine slender blade. Dark-brown patina. Length 173 cm. Width 10.2 cm.

Tene Waitere (attributed), finely carved hoe, with orthodox…

Finely Carved Ancestral Paddle by Tene Waitere

Tene Waitere (attributed), finely carved hoe, with orthodox leaf shaped blade carved in deep relief with two ancestral figures and two manaia decorated with rauponga and with cut paua shell eyes. The reverse side of the blade with low relief Kowhaiwhai…

Hoe - paddle, of classic form with a rich brown patina. Length…

Brown Patina Paddle - 168cm Length

Hoe - paddle, of classic form with a rich brown patina. Length 168 cm. Width 14 cm

Hoe - paddle, a beautifully carved paddle with open kowhaiwhai…

Kowhaiwhai Paddle with Beautiful Carvings

Hoe - paddle, a beautifully carved paddle with open kowhaiwhai designs to the handle and blade. Kowhaiwhai is a traditional Maori decoration that takes the form of abstract curved pattern work. Blackened old patina. Length 164 cm. Width 12.5 cm

Hoe - paddle, of classic form with a rich brown patina. Length…

Brown Patina Paddle - Classic Form

Hoe - paddle, of classic form with a rich brown patina. Length 159 cm. Width 14 cm

Hoe - rare Maori paddle unique paddle with two leaf-shaped…

Rare Maori Paddle with Dual Leaf-Shaped Blades

Hoe - rare Maori paddle unique paddle with two leaf-shaped blades with central, tapering medial ridge leading to a strong cylindrical shaft. Rich, honey-brown patina. Collected in the Whanganui region, circa 1850. Length 2,300-, width 14 cm

A Maori canoe paddle (hoe), reddish-brown wood, lanceolate…

Maori canoe paddle with incised script

A Maori canoe paddle (hoe), reddish-brown wood, lanceolate shaped blade with incised 'missionary script' PAKU, plain shaft swelling slightly at the terminal end. Length 135 cm