Walking Stick

Orator's Staff

A tokotoko (walking stick) made of one piece of wood. The upper and lower halves of the walking stick are undecorated. The middle of the tokotoko has one naturalistic figure and one wheku (carved face that depicts an ancestor) figure with a background of rauponga (rows of dog tooth notches between parallel grooves and ridges). The top figure is a naturalistic, with facial moko. They have three three-fingered hands placed along the stomach. The figure's body is covered in pākati (dog tooth notches). On top of the figure is a wheku head. The wheku figure in the middle of the tokotoko has one three-fingered hand in the mouth, the other hand holding the opposite wrist. The wheku figure has pākati (dog tooth grooves) decoration on the body and pāua (abalone) shell eyes. In between the wheku figure and the naturalistic figure is a carved face with pāua inlay.

A tokotoko is a walking stick that is both practical and symbolic in Māori culture. It is commonly used by elders and orators during speeches, particularly on the marae (sacred place), where it signifies the speaker’s right to speak and their connection to whakapapa (genealogy/identity). It can also be used as support when walking.