Canoe baler, tiheru, of wood, from New Zealand; part of the Forster collection (Forster 117; 1886.1.1264)

Baler carved from a single block of wood. Carved in the form of a face, with eyes, inlaid with haliotis shell, eyebrows, nose, and mouth with six teeth. The carving appears unfinished. A local repair using plaited NZ flax fibre has been made to hold down a large flake in the wood on the underside.

• Museum database entry.