Story: Whales

Removing jawbones

Removing jawbones

Māori traditionally treasured stranded whales for their jawbones, which were used for carving. When three sperm whales beached and died at Paekakariki in March 1996, Māori from the region removed the jawbones from two of the three. The third whale was washed out to sea.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1996/0832/9A
Photograph by Phil Reid

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Whales - Strandings: whales and dolphins', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/7111/removing-jawbones (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006