Toa hei Tapahu

Taranaki and East Coast Wars 1865-1872

Warrior wearing a tapahu, a war mat made from the skin of the kuri, the dog now extinct that was introduced to New Zealand by the Maori. These were made by sewing whole skins together. He holds a mere pounamu. Adornments include a heitiki made of pounamu around his neck, hei taringa in his ear, and Albatros feathers in his hair. The facial tattooing known as moko involved a lengthy and painful process of carving the skin.

These figurines are made in the Wairarapa. A local family started making sets of solid lead figures in 1992. Beautifully made, their emphasis has always been on New Zealand themes. They make their own moulds, and the products are hand-painted with delicate attention to detail.

These stand approximately 6 - 9 cm high and come with their own box.