The Kaitaia Carving

This replica was presented to us by the Auckland War Memorial Museum in 1983.

The original was found at Lake Tangonge, just west of Kaitaia township, in the 1920's.

Dated at between 1200 & 1300 a.d, it is regarded as the oldest Maori taonga or treasure.

The carving, which is strongly Polynesian in style, is of the Archaic Period. It reveals a consciousness that pre-dates the classical, curvelinear style that is more familiar to us.

It rests as the prime Te Rarawa taonga and this district's premier symbol, it is a significant marker in our understanding of early Maori and it is intrinsically a finely carved work of art.