Search page place | National Museum of Australia

Skip to content

We are no longer updating this page and it is not optimised for mobile devices.

Alaska | Hawaii | Marquesas | New Caledonia | New Hebrides (Vanuatu) | New Zealand
Nootka | Tahiti & Society Islands | Tierra del Fuego | Tonga | Unknown

New Zealand

Adze blade made of hard black basalt stone with a rounded off neck, also rounded off lengthwise in cross-section.

Adze blade toki

basalt, New Zealand, l. 14.6 cm, w. 6.5 cm, Inv. Oz 286

Adze blade made of a light-coloured greenstone (a kind of Jasper or Nephritic stone) with four-edged cross-section and without shoulder neck.

Adze blade toki pounamu

greenstone, New Zealand, l. 12.5 cm, w. 6.3 cm, Inv. Oz 287

Adze blade made of dark-coloured greenstone.

Adze blade toki pounamu

greenstone, New Zealand, l. 10 cm, w. 4 cm, Inv. Oz 288

A canoe ornament made of wood and coloured red. The carving features a human face with tongue extended and the larger face with inlaid mother-of -pearl eyes.

Architectural ornament

wood, paua shell, New Zealand, l. 30 cm, h. 7.8 cm, w. 6.5 cm, Inv. Oz 323

Basket made of light and reddish to dark brown flax strips plaited in a geometric pattern.

flax, New Zealand, h. 25.5 cm, w. 45.5 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 50

Basket made of light and dark brown flax strips plaited together in a geometric pattern, with handles made of twisted cord.

flax, New Zealand, h. 36.5 cm, w. 52.5 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 51

Matted belt made of flax, ending at each end in a plaited band.

flax, New Zealand, l. 128 cm, w. 6 cm, Inv. Oz 322

Chisel made of a light-coloured greenstone (a kind of Jasper orNephritic stone) with rounded cross-section and narrow cutting edge.

greenstone, New Zealand, l. 6 cm, w. 1.2 cm, Inv. Oz 290

Hand-woven cloak made of flax.

Cloak (unfinished) mai muka

flax, New Zealand, l. 65 cm, w. 90 cm, Inv. Oz 313

Cloak fastener formed in a needle-like shape made of whalebone and plant fibre.

Cloak fastener au rei

whalebone, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 16 cm, Inv. Oz 299

Cloak fastener formed in a needle-like shape made of animal material and plant fibre.

Cloak fastener au rei

animal material, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 13.5 cm, Inv. Oz 300

Cloak fastener formed in a needle-like shape made of green abalone shell and plant fibre.

Cloak fastener au rei

paua shell, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 9 cm, Inv. Oz 301

Cloak fastener possibly made of human bone and plant fibre.

Cloak fastener au rei

bone, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 4.5 cm, Inv. Oz 303

Hand-woven cloak of brown-beige colour made of flax, with remnants of dog fur strips on all four corners.

flax, dog fur, New Zealand, l. 185 cm, w. 160 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 33

Cloak made of flax and dyed dark brown. Thick, doubled fibre cords are twisted and found on both long sides as borders.

Cloak mai muka

flax, New Zealand, l. 113 cm, w. 164 cm, Inv. Oz 314

Hand-woven cloak made of a silky flax.

Cloak mai muka

flax, dog fur, New Zealand, l. 83 cm, w. 120 cm, Inv. Oz 315

Hand-woven cloak made of flax with a fringed edge.

Cloak mai muka

flax, New Zealand, l. 105 cm, w. 116 cm, Inv. Oz 316

Hand-woven cloak made of flax, with six brown, stripes and brown, patterned edges on the long sides.

Cloak mai muka

flax, dog fur, New Zealand, l. 107 cm, w. 135 cm, Inv. Oz 317

Flat wooden club with hole drilled through at the grip end, with plaited plant fibres drawn through three times to make a strap.

Club patu kotiate

wood, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 32 cm, w. 11.5 cm, Inv. Oz 274

Flat club made of dark brown wood.

wood, New Zealand, l. 37 cm, w. 10 cm, Inv. Oz 275

Flat club made of dark basalt, with hole drilled at the grip end with a strap made of twisted twine.

Club patu onewa

basalt, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 35.5 cm, w. 9.5 cm, Inv. Oz 278

Flat club made of dark basalt, with hole drilled at the grip end with a strap made of twisted twine.

Club patu onewa

basalt, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 36.5 cm, w. 7.5 cm, Inv. Oz 279

Flat whalebone club with hole drilled through at the grip end with twisted plant fibre cord drawn through it.

whalebone, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 46 cm, w. 8 cm, Inv. Oz 276

club made of whalebone, with hole drilled at the grip end, with strap made of plaited cord.

Club patu paraoa

whalebone, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 47.5 cm, w. 9.5 cm, Inv. Oz 277

Club made of reddish-brown wood

Club pouwhenua

wood, New Zealand, l. 122 cm, Inv. Oz 284

Staff made of brown wood, the grip end decorated with line and facial ornaments.

wood, New Zealand, l. 137 cm, w. 5.8 cm, Inv. Oz 281

Club made of heavy brown wood, the grip end decorated with line and facial ornaments, the eyes inlaid with mother-of -pearl shell.

wood, paua shell, New Zealand, l. 195.5 cm, w. 10.1 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 282

Club made of hard, reddish-brown wood.

Club tewhatewha

wood, New Zealand, l. 142.5 cm, w. 23.5 cm (blade), Inv. Oz 283

Comb made of dark brown wood, embellished with a greenish opalescent piece of shell.

wood, paua shell, New Zealand, l. 10.1 cm, w. 6.2 cm, Inv. Oz 292

Comb made out of bone.

bone, New Zealand, l. 15.5 cm, w. 7.5 cm, Inv. Oz 293

Cord made of twisted flax and wrapped around a card.

flax, New Zealand, w. 0.1 cm, Inv. Oz 305

Cord made of plaited flax, yellow and brownish-black, and wrapped around a card.

flax, New Zealand, w. 0.3 cm, Inv. Oz 306

Cord made of sweet scented grass.

flax, New Zealand, w. 0.2 cm, Inv. Oz 307

Fishhook with wooden shank, with a bone point lightly curved and lashing at the bone point and upper shank made of plant fibres extending to a twisted cord.

Fishhook matau

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 12.5 cm, w. 6.5 cm Hanover 1854, No. 35

Fishhook with wooden shank, inserted bone point, and twisted cord as the line.

Fishhook matau okooko

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 15 cm, Inv. Oz 337

Small double barbed fishhook made of bone with a serrated outer edge and twisted cord.

Fishhook matau

bone, flax, New Zealand. l. 3 cm, Inv. Oz 327

Fishhook made of bone with serrated outer edge and twisted cord.

Fishhook matau

bone, flax, New Zealand, l. 3 cm, Inv. Oz 328

Fishhook made of bone with serrated outer edge and twisted cord.

Fishhook matau

bone, flax, New Zealand, l. 3 cm, Inv. Oz 329

Fishhook with a wooden shank, bone point and lashing of twisted cords of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 4.5–13 cm, Inv. Oz 331

Fishhook with wooden shank, bone point, and lashing of twisted cords of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 4.5–13 cm, Inv. Oz 332

Fishhook with wooden shank, bone point, and lashing of twisted cords of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 4.5–13 cm, Inv. Oz 333

Fishhook with shank made of black wood, fish bone point, with short, twisted cord, and lashing made of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, fishbone, cord, New Zealand, l. 3 cm, Inv. Oz 334

Fishhook made of two pieces of bone neatly tied together, with twisted cord and lashing made of plant material.

Fishhook matau

bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 11 cm, Inv. Oz 335

Two-part fishhook made of wood, with twisted cord, and lashing made of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, cord, New Zealand, l. 8 cm, Inv. Oz 336

Two-part fishhook made of wood with twisted cord and lashing made of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 10 cm, Inv. Oz 338

Fishhook with curved wooden shank, bone point, and lashing of twisted cords of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 4.5–13 cm, Inv. Oz 339

Fishhook with curved wooden shank, bone point, and lashing of twisted cords of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 4.5–13 cm, Inv. Oz 340

Fishhook with curved wooden shank, bone point, and lashing of twisted cords of plant material.

Fishhook matau

wood, bone, cord, New Zealand, l. 4.5–13 cm, Inv. Oz 341

fishhook made of snail shell with thin twisted cord.

Fishhook matau

snailshell, cord, l. 2 cm, New Zealand, Inv. Oz 330

Flax sample of twenty twisted cords, ending in loose strands, knotted together at the upper edge and held together by a thin band.

Flax sample harakeke

New Zealand, d. 0.7 cm, Hanover 1854, No. 34

Flax sample in a bundle twisted together and wound up.

Flax sample harakeke

New Zealand, Inv. Oz 304

A bundle of twisted flax strands consisting of twelve individual strands.

Flax sample harakeke

New Zealand, l. 40 cm, Inv. Oz 310

Flax sample in long, twisted strands

Flax sample harakeke

New Zealand, l. 85 cm, Inv. Oz 311

Flute made of long bone, perforated on one side.

bone, New Zealand, l. 9.3 cm, w. 1.4 cm, Inv. Oz 302

Flute made of light brown wood, embellished with spiral patterns in dots and lines, with a mother-of-pearl plate and three holes, at one end with the remains of a twisted cord.

wood, paua shell, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 16 cm, w. 2.5 cm, Inv. Oz 324

Flute made of wood with two halves mounted together. A carving at the lower closed end and the upper open end is a human head with mother-of-pearl eyes and an extended tongue.

Flute putorino

wood, paua shell, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 72.5 cm, w. 6.5 cm, Inv. Oz 325

Feather wreath made of bird feathers (the feathers are badly damaged).

bird feathers, plant fibre, New Zealand, d. 8 cm, Inv. Oz 298

greenstone, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 5 cm, Inv. Oz 294

Pendant as earring kuru

greenstone, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 5 cm, Inv. Oz 294

Earrings made of dark-coloured greenstone, drilled through and threaded with a loop made of plant material.

Pendant as earring kuru

greenstone, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 8 cm, Inv. Oz 295

An ear-ornament formed of five human teeth strung on a plaited cord.

Pendants as earrings kuru

human teeth, plant fibre, New Zealand, l. 3 cm; l. 3.5 cm, Inv. Oz 296, 297

Spear tao kaniwha, spear tao huata, spears tao

Spear tao kaniwha, wood, New Zealand, l. 306 cm, Inv. Oz 1278; spear tao huata, wood, New Zealand, l. 270 cm, Inv. Oz 1280; spears tao, wood, New Zealand, l. 234–161.5 cm, Inv. Oz 1279, 1281

Wooden paddle of a war canoe. The shaft is decorated with ornaments at the handle and at the connection of the blade.

Steering paddle hoe

wood, New Zealand, l. 193 cm, w. 15.5 cm, Inv. Oz 285

Two bands made of plaited flax and wound up.

plaited flax, New Zealand, w. 0.6–0.9 cm, Inv. Oz 308, 309

Breadcrumb Links: