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Story: Kūmara

Image
Kō

The kō was a digging implement used to loosen soil, which sometimes had a teka (foot tread) attached. It is sometimes incorrectly called a spade.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: MA_I002736

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Peter Adds, Kūmara – Tools and storage pits, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/17364/ko (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Peter Adds, published 1 March 2009.