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Story: Canoe traditions

Kupe’s anchor

Kupe’s anchor

Held at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, this is said to be the anchor stone of Mātāwhaorua, which was sailed by the Polynesian explorer Kupe. It used to be thought that Kupe discovered New Zealand in about 925 CE. Research now points to the late 13th century as the period of settlement by a number of voyaging canoes.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: ME015920

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Canoe traditions – The meaning of canoe traditions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2295/kupes-anchor (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009.

Comments

Rawiri Moetara
22 July 2013
The story about Ngatokimatawhaorua and Mamari is wrong as is the Waka was called Matawhaorua adjusted by the son of Kupe renamed to Tokimatawhaorua. After the Paihia crowd saw a money making chance built a replica. then the name Ngatokimatwhaorua came about. Both are buried where they landed.