Kōrero: Collecting

During James Cook's 18th-century voyages to New Zealand, he and other members of his expedition collected native flora and fauna and items made by Māori, including this waka huia (treasure box) now held by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington. Made of wood, pāua shell and harakeke (flax), it would have contained treasured possessions such as hei tiki (neck pendants) or huia feathers before being given to Cook in 1776.