Ministry for Culture and Heritage has confirmed that a taiaha being auctioned on Trade Me as having belonged to the second Māori King is genuine but Waikato scholar Hoturoa Kerr wants Maori to disengage from the sale altogether.
There is a current bid of $12,000 on this taiaha and it's a sale Hoturoa Kerr wants no engagement whatsoever with the sale.
Tainui scholar Hoturoa Kerr says “I think that we shouldn't bid on it or even buy this taonga, because if we don't show that we want it, then we will set a precedence that this taonga has no market value.”
According to details provided by TradeMe, the taiaha belonged to the second Maori King, King Tawhiao who had gifted it to a visiting dignitary before his death in 1894.
In addition, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage confirm the taiaha is a 'taonga tuturu' as defined by the Protected Objects Act.
We tried to reach the seller of the item via TradeMe, but TradeMe have told us the seller does not wish to speak to media.
Kerr says “While I have said what I have said, that doesn't mean our taonga should be left in the hands of others, so I have no issue with our iwi buying it.”
The auction closes March, 14th.