Story: Whaling

Whalebone club

Whalebone club

For Māori, stranded whales were a valuable resource. The meat was a prized food, and the teeth were made into ornaments worn by respected members of the community. Whalebone was sometimes shaped into a patu, or hand club, like this one from Southland.

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Southland Museum and Art Gallery

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Whaling - Māori and whaling', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/object/6267/whalebone-club (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 12 Jun 2006