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.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Southland Museum and Art Gallery
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Tāpiritia te tākupu hou