Story: New Zealand culture overseas

Māori material culture on display

Māori material culture on display

This pātaka (storehouse), Te Takinga, was displayed at the 1888–89 Centennial International Exhibition in Melbourne. The New Zealand section at international exhibitions in the 19th century usually included fine examples of Māori carving and weaving. At first these were shown as remnants of a colourful but bygone age, but gradually they came to be presented as symbols of New Zealand. Often an impressive structure such as this was the centrepiece.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PAColl-6585-51
Photograph by John William Lindt

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'New Zealand culture overseas - Taking New Zealand to the world', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/45835/maori-material-culture-on-display (accessed 16 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 22 Oct 2014