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History

A Tekoteko is a carved Maori figure and was usually a memorial to an important Maori Chief. He Weku is the style of the symbolised face of this mask.

The identity of the Chief was to be found in the tattoo pattern on the face of the tekoteko.

Decorative work in which notched ridges run parallel to one, two or three plain ridges is termed Rauponga. Within the design the plain ridges are known as Patapata and the hollows between the ridges as Haehae, while the notched ridge itself is termed Pakati. Each individual notch is an Arapata and they form a diamond pattern called Tuara-kuri.

The eyes are inlaid with paua amore colourful relative of the abalone.

The spirals serve as points of movement or joint marks, for the jaw, shoulders, elbow & hips.

The "three fingered hand" is found on many ancestral figures, some also show a back-bending thumb or spur. This shows an avian feature superimposed on the human image.

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