Treasure Box

An oval wakahuia (treasure box) made of carved wood. The surface decoration is primarily composed of multiple rauru (double spirals composed of rauponga) with a rauponga pattern (rows of haehae alternating with rows of pakati) in between the spirals. There are carved faces present on both ends of the box, one a wheku face with the tongue outstretched, the other carved head has pāua (abalone) shell eyes, and the bottom of the face is broken off.

A wakahuia is a carved wooden box used to contain personal belongings that are important to the owner. These items were generally used for adornment and could be feathers that were used in the hair, pendants, combs, etc. Because the items kept within the wakahuia carried the mana of their owners and ancestors, the wakahuia itself became a sacred object, symbolising the transmission of identity and status. Wakahuia were typically suspended from the ceilings of Māori homes, signifying both protection and reverence for their contents. There was also a practical aspect of the box being suspended, as this meant that people could see the intricate carvings underneath. A wakahuia served not only a practical role but also a deeply spiritual one, preserving and honouring the mana of those who had come before.