Story: Māori and museums – ngā whare taonga

Artefacts collected by James Cook, 1769–79

These illustrations from the Graphic, 1 October 1887, show items from the Pacific collected by English explorer James Cook on his three voyages from 1769 to 1779. The artefacts come from a range of Pacific Islands and include Māori taonga (treasures) such as patu (clubs), hoe (carved paddles) and matau (fish hooks). There were also mokomōkai (preserved tattooed heads). This collection was held by Cook's family until 1887, when it was acquired by the New South Wales government.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-433-012

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:

Paora Tapsell, 'Māori and museums – ngā whare taonga - Māori treasures and European museums', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/44070/artefacts-collected-by-james-cook-1769-79 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Paora Tapsell, published 22 Oct 2014