Collections

The Maori collection consists of more than 100 objects. Key among the objects are jade Tikis made of greenstone, greenstone adzes, Maori fish hooks, painted paddles and carved wooden boxes for feathers. The collection also includes lintels and other carved wooden parts of a Maori meeting house, woven dresses, cloaks, war clubs, tattooing instruments, poi balls and bullroarers. (Bullroarers are a kind of musical instrument used in sacred ceremonies.)

Some of the early collections were acquired from Oldham whilst successive curators who were employed by the museum augmented the rest.