Papa Hou
Size: 65cm x 19cm x 14cm
Made of Kauri (Agathis macrophylla)
Papa hou are treasure containers for storing a person's most prized personal possessions, such as hei tiki (pendants), feathers for decorating and dressing the hair, and other items of personal adornment.
Waka huia and Papa hou were imbued with the tapu (taboo) of their owners because they contained personal items that regularly came into contact with the body, particularly the head (the most tapu part of the body).