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 (alternating haehae and pakati). There are large carved heads at either end of the box with their tongues extended. Underneath the heads are their bodies, extending to the bottom of the box. They are both female figures with koru (spiral) decorations.

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.