Auckland Museum blog

Welcome to this week’s preview of Tamaki Paenga Hira, an informative program currently featuring on Maori Television exploring 13 taonga Maori from the Auckland War Memorial Museum collections.

Episode 8: Te Toki a Tapiri

This week’s program investigates the rich history of the waka taua (war canoe) Te Toki a Tapiri. Te Toki a Tapiri was built about 1836 near Wairoa on the East Coast for Te Waka Tarakau of Ngati Kahungunu. The massive waka was then traded to Te Waka Perohuka of the Rongowhakaata tribe of Poverty Bay before it had been fully carved: the transaction saw the famous cloak Karamaene traded in return for the waka.

Tauihu of Te Toki a Tapiri

The waka stayed in the possession of Perohuka until 1863, when it was presented to Tamati Waka Nene and his brother Patuone to commemorate the end of Ngapuhi’s musket raids on the East Coast. In return for Te Toki a Tapiri, Perohuka was given one of the first horses on the East Coast. Te Toki a Tapiri was brought to Auckland soon after the transaction was completed and eventually sold to Kaihau and Te Katipa of Ngati Te Ata.

The outbreak of the war in the Waikato saw Government forces impound a number of waka taua including Te Toki a Tapiri. The Government had feared the possibility of a seaborne attack by Maori on the southern outposts of Auckland, and they sent the Onehunga Coast Guard and the Rifle Volunteer by boat to Waiuku to seize any waka they could locate. Te Toki a Tapiri was seized in late November 1863 and subsequently towed to Onehunga by the steamer Lady Barkly. 

Orders where then issued to the Navy to destroy all the assembled waka and all but one of the canoes were destroyed. Te Toki a Tapiri was only saved by the persuasive efforts of Henry Brewer, the Collector of Customs at Onehunga. Brewer had the waka moved to the Customs House yard where it lay for a number of years.

A John Kinder photo probably taken in early 1860s at Onehunga when the waka was saved from being burnt by Imperial troops.

Te Toki a Tapiri was eventually restored in 1869 and featured as the centre piece for the visit to Auckland of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Paora Tuhaere of Ngati Whatua of Orakei was then asked to care for the waka which he did until it was finally presented to the Auckland Museum by the government around 1881.

At 25 metres long and with a hull adzed from a single totara tree, the waka could carry up to 100 warriors. Te Toki a Tapiri is currently on display in the Auckland Museum’s Maori Court.

Tamaki Paenga Hira, Episode 8: Te Toki a Tapiri screens on Maori Television, Wednesday 7th December 2011 at 8.30.