Photograph of Te Tākinga Pātaka, a carved taonga of Ngāti Pikiao.
The pātaka was created in the 1850s by Te Hārete Te Whanarere of Ngāti Makino. Originally known as Maramataeahoaho, it stood near the shores of Lake Rotoiti (at Te Hape, Te Taheke) until acquired by Sir Walter Buller as a collection piece. He toured it at exhibitions in both London and Melbourne in 1886 and later installed it on his property at Lake Papaitonga in the Horowhenua District.
This photograph was likely taken following Buller's death in 1906 as part of an assessment of his estate. Buller had left Te Tākinga as part of his 'Māori collection' to his sons, who then donated it to the Dominion Museum in 1911. It has remained with the Museum (now Te Papa) since then, undergoing restoration in the 1930s by Thomas Heberley of Te Atiawa.
Datec. 1910PhotographerUnknownReference50010-732Iwi / HapūNgāti PikiaoHolding InstitutionWellington City LibrariesOriginal negative / print reference numberWP12437Original print size (mm)212 x 165Map[1]
