Precious Te Ahu taonga make the cut for exhibition
Two incredibly rare taonga from Kaitāia’s Te Ahu Museum, dating back to the 13th Century, have been hand-delivered to the South Island for an exhibition.
Te Ahu staff member Louisa Kiddie and Museum Trust members Vice Chair Tom Allen and Connie Hassan presented the precious toki poutangata (ceremonial adzes) to the Nelson Provincial Museum last week. They will be on loan until October.
The toki pakohe are sourced from Te Tauihu (top of the South Island) but their notched edges are characteristics predominantly found in Te Tai Tokerau. They are very rare, with only six known in the country.
The precious artifacts were carried to Nelson in a waterproof, dust-proof, and impact-proof case and will be part of the Nelson museum’s upcoming exhibition on pakohe argillite adzes and axe heads.
“The toki poutangata are large, quite heavy pieces with notches on each side and hold important ancestral significance,” explains Te Ahu Museum and Archives Manager, Whina Te Whiu.
“They are linked to the chief Kahungunu, originally from Tinotino pā in Ōrongotea, later named Kaitāia. He was known for his prowess in land and sea endeavours and undertook ambitious projects, including excavating a canal from Awanui to Kaitāia to aid Ngāti Awa’s navigation. He eventually left the north and travelled south.”
Te Ahu Museum was approached by Hāmuera Manihera, Kaitiaki Taonga Māori Manager at the Nelson Provincial Museum, to borrow the items for its exhibition Pakohe. The exhibition explores trade among iwi of Te Tauihu, looking at the distribution of the toki to other takiwa and how they were used and adapted.
The Te Ahu representatives presented the artifacts to the museum at a handover ceremony attended by Manihera, Ngāti Koata trustee Kimiora McGregor, Ngāti Kuia representative Christine Hemi, and Nelson Provincial Museum Chief Executive Lucinda Blackley-Jim.
The exhibition is in the upper gallery of the Nelson Provincial Museum from 28 June to 6 October.
Top: The rare toki poutangata from Te Ahu Museum that will be part of an exhibition in Nelson.
Above: The taonga were handed over at a ceremony in Nelson. Seated (left to right): Kimiora McGregor, Christine Hemi, and Lucinda Blackley-Jimson. Standing (left to right): Hāmuera Manihera, Connie Hassan, Tom Allen, and Louisa Kiddie.