• Taonga Māori

Hei Tiki, kawakawa pounamu, 1955/1260/2

Hei Tiki, kawakawa pounamu, 1955/1260/2

“He whare maihi tū ki roto ki te pā tūwatawata he tohu nō te rangatira”

‘A carved house standing inside a fortified pā is the mark of a chief’ – This proverbial response uttered by local Ngāti Maru chief, Taharākau encapsulates the essence of our taonga Māori collection housed and cared for here in our Museum for the future benefit of all and continues to connect people to their cultural heritage.

The foundation of our taonga Māori collection consist of the W.D. Lysnar Collection, part of the Black Collection, the H.C. Anderson Collection and others. The collection includes significant loans and acquisitions from whānau, hapū, iwi, community leaders, individuals and groups. Our taonga Māori collection continues to evolve and develop, contributing to the cultural renaissance and strengthening our regional history.

These taonga include

  • Taonga o te whare pora (Māori textiles)
  • Mahi kōhatu (worked stone)
  • Whakairo rākau (wood carving)
  • Hōpara makaurangi (painted panels)
  • Taonga whakarākei (decorative items)
  • Ngā taonga ā Tū (Māori weapons)

Search the Taonga Māori collection online

Explore the collection

Explore the collection on our online database. We are continually updating and improving the online collection and regularly add new objects.

Visit our Donations page for more information.

Exhibitions

The museum displays works from the taonga collection in semi-permanent and short term exhibitions.

Taonga Tūturu

*If you find a Taonga Tūturu (an object which relates to Māori history, culture or society and is more than 50 years old) please bring it to the museum so that we can notify the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Taonga Tūturu are one of 9 categories of protected objects defined in the Protected Objects Act.

Research and access

For collection research, access and advice please contact the Museum Kaitieki Māori.   Please note that staff are not always available immediately and it is advisable to make arrangements as far in advance as possible, particularly if you are only visiting Gisborne for a short period.

Researchers who are unable to visit in person can make their enquiry by email, letter or telephone

We welcome ideas for new projects and exhibitions so if you have something in mind, please get in touch – we would love to hear from you!

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