Polynesian carved dog

Polynesian carved dog

The East Polynesians who settled New Zealand brought with them the Polynesian dog (kurī) and rat (kiore). But the Polynesian hen and pig did not make it to New Zealand. This representation of a dog – one of the oldest artefacts ever found in New Zealand – was discovered in a cave at Redcliffs, near Christchurch. The cave was used by some of the first Polynesians to settle in New Zealand.