Te hei tiki pounamu o Hongi

The author is humbled to have had the opportunity to access and examine the pounamu/greenstone hei tiki which Hongi Hika gifted to the Reverend Basil Woodd whilst he was in England in 1820.

The author would like to acknowledge and thank Owen Taituha, Curator, at Te Kongahu Museum, Waitangi Treaty Grounds for his warm manaakitanga/hospitality, and to Dougal Austin, Senior Curator Matauranga Maori at Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum of New Zealand, for his assistance regarding research and permission for accessing this invaluable taonga.

The author will provide Owen, Dougal, and their respective museums with a Historical & Technical Report about this taonga shortly.

*No close up, clear photos of the hei tiki have been published on social media, as per guidelines given to me at the time of examination; without permission of Te Kongahu Museum.