Taonga

A taonga is now a treasure in Māori culture; it can be anything from a word to a memory. The current definition differs from the historical definition, noted by Hongi Hika as "property procured by the spear" [one could understand this as war booty or defended property].

Tangible examples are all sorts of heirlooms and artefacts, land, fisheries, natural resources such as geothermal springs and access to natural resources, such as riparian water rights and access to the riparian zone of rivers or streams. Intangible examples may include language and spiritual beliefs.

The varying definitions and interpretations have implications for policies regarding such things as intellectual property and genetic engineering.

Taonga have constitutional significance in New Zealand, as the second article of the Treaty of Waitangi guaranteed that the Māori signatories would retain the possession and enjoyment of their taonga under British rule. Section 6(e) of the Resource Management Act 1991 mandates decision makers to ‘recognise and provide for the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wahi tapu [sacred sites], and other taonga’ as a matter of national importance. Because the Treaty of Waitangi promised that Māori would retain undisturbed possession of their taonga, what is deemed to be a taonga has major political, economic and social consequences in New Zealand. It has been the subject of fierce debates.

Te Uenuku, or simply Uenuku is an important early Māori carving housed at Te Awamutu Museum.Te Uenuku (literally "The rainbow") represents the tribal god Uenuku.

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Wikipedia