Treasure Box Lid

An oval wakahuia (treasure box) made of carved wood. The surface decoration on both the box and the lid is hikuaua (spiral composed of haehae enclosing pakati to make continuous hooks). There are carved heads at the ends of the box, one on either side. Both faces are worn.

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.