Tangata Whenua - People of the Land

Explore the Tangata Whenua gallery, with its impressive displays of Maori cultural artefacts. The design of this gallery centres around the protocol of a marae, with local pieces to the left and northern provenance material displayed on the right.

The gallery was designed with the help and guidance of representatives of Ngai Tahu, the local iwi (tribe) in Otago. In the South Island section, you’ll find a display of finely crafted objects in wood, whale ivory and pounamu (greenstone). The pounamu treasures include amulets and mere (fighting clubs), all heirlooms on deposit from prominent Ngai Tahu families.

You’ll be overwhelmed with the focus of the central area of the gallery - the grand and ornate waka (canoe), Te Paranihi, and intricate carvings of the meeting house from Ngati Porou, the North Island's East Coast Tumoana-Kotore.

Enjoy displays of creation myths, tribal identity, genealogy and textiles. Everyday activities such as hunting, fishing and garden planting are also explained with reference to rituals to the appropriate deities.