The History

Before they became ornamental they were an everyday tool used in cutting and digging. Toki were also lashed to expertly carved wooden shafts and wielded by powerful Māori chiefs during religious ceremonies. These toki were known as toki poutangata.

Our national museum finds that toki poutangata were used on ceremonial occasions, such as the felling of a great tree for a significant waka (canoe) or for the ridgepole of a whare nui or meeting house.

The first chips cut from the tree were taken by the tohunga to a special place where a karakia of thanks was recited to the god of the forest, Tanemahuta, in acknowledgment of the sacrifice of his offspring.