When the Waka Taua, or Maori war canoe, was first added to the
museum’s collection in 1854, it was considerably damaged and
missing a stern post. Although probably the largest, most complete
Maori water craft in any collection outside New Zealand, it had
rarely been displayed as it was so difficult to interpret.
Comprising of a river boat hull and war canoe wash-strakes,
additional pieces such as a prow had been made to give it the shape
and designs of a war canoe, even though it was less than half the
full size.
Research by Chantal Knowles, Principal Curator of Oceania,
Americas and Africa, has dated the canoe as early as 1827 and it is
very likely to have been associated with Sir Thomas Makdougall
Brisbane, Governor of Australia (1821-25) and after whom the
Australian city is named.
Restoration of the waka
Now the canoe has been restored and brought back to life. George
Nuku, a highly-regarded Maori artist, was commissioned to work with
our Conservation team on the restoration of the decorative carving
and shell inlay on the canoe, and to complete the 19th century work
by the addition of a new stern post, fashioned from acrylic. This
blending of old and new materials highlights the difference between
the original vessel and the modern artwork.
George Nuku explains:
'The beauty of transparent acrylic is that it doesn't overpower
what is already there. It almost embodies the spirit of what you
are making and doesn't detract from the original artefact.'
The Maori have always cared for their objects, houses and canoes
by repairing and replacing pieces when needed. George has continued
this tradition by guiding our repair of the canoe and adding the
stern.
All objects have power or mana in Maori culture; this
is a spiritual force which connects the Maori with their ancestors
who first arrived in New Zealand by canoe. Before any work could be
undertaken on the canoe George addressed the canoe at a ceremony at
which everyone working on the project was present. At the ceremony
the canoe was given a name ‘Te Tuhono’ meaning ‘to join’.
The waka in the new Museum
Now Te Tuhono forms a centrepiece of the Facing the Sea gallery in the National Museum of
Scotland. This gallery focuses on the cultural diversity of the
peoples of the Pacific and their close relationship with the ocean.
The work on the waka has revealed much about its history, both in
the museum and how it came to be in the collections.
Above: Installing the war canoe in the Facing the Sea
gallery.
Above: Te Tuhono in the Facing the Sea gallery.
Above: George Nuku with the finished waka, in the Facing the Sea
gallery.