Treasure Box

An oval wakahuia (treasure box) made of carved wood. The surface decoration of both the lid and the box is a rauponga pattern which includes spirals (koru) and notches framed by parallel grooves (pakati). There are small carved heads at either end of the box. The lid has cracks and pieces missing on both ends.

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.