Rare godstick found

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 13

Rare godstick found

PA ‘ Auckland A unique godstick that lay unreported in a Devonport house for 30 years has become the first piece of Auckland Maori carving to reach the Auckland War Memorial Museum since 1960. It is the first godstick found in Auckland and the first of the Hukere form which has been found north of Taranaki. The assistant director of the museum, Mr David Simmons, believes that the carving belonged to the Kawerau tribe, which occupied North Head until early in the nineteenth century. He said that the godstick was probably more than 200 years old. The 30cm carving had been bought off a Ngataringa Bay man who had been given it as a child. “He knew it was old, he knew it was good, but he did not realise its significance," said Mr Simmons.

Godsticks had been used by the Maoris as a resting place for their gods. A stick would be put in .the ground and the god called to come down to it to be spoken to.

The carvings were a rare find.