Pair of walking sticks or orator's staffs

Maori orators' staffs are known as tokotoko. They are a symbol of authority, usually held during formal speeches. This pair was used during the Waitangi Day celebrations in 1963, which were attended by Queen Elizabeth II. The ceremony marked the 123 year anniversary of the treaty made between Maori and Queen Victoria in 1840, in which the queen pledged protection for the indigenous peoples of the islands. At the top of each staff is a figure with an open mouth and a large, protruding tongue – a sign of defiance used in Maori war dances (haka) to intimidate opponents. The expression features heavily in the stylised figures of Maori wood carving.