How did Maori 'treasure' from New Zealand come to be auctioned in East Devon?

A resident of New Zealand is hoping to find out more information about an rare item he purchased from Lyme Bay Auctions, based in Seaton, last year.

Nick Perry, who lives in Wellington, New Zealand, purchased the army swagger or drill stick with a finely-carved Maori tekoteko – a stylised human form – surmounting it in September 2020.

From initial research, Nick believes it is highly probable that the stick is one of about 18 presented by Sir Apirana Ngata to the officers of the 28th Maori Battalion, before they shipped out from New Zealand for overseas service in May 1940.

Apirana Ngata was one of the first Maori MPs in New Zealand and is still held in high esteem in the country.

Nick believes his purchase to be one of only two of these drill sticks known to still exist. They are known as 'taonga', or treasure, in Maori culture because of the perceived spiritual life force energy or healing power attached to them.

Nick is now trying to find out how such a rare item of Maori culture came to be up for sale at Seaton-based Lyme Bay Auctions, and from there he hopes to find out who the original recipient of the drill stick was.

Unfortunately, the auction house has so far been unable to assist with his enquiries, so he is now appealing to the wider East Devon community to ask if anyone has any information.

When the Maori Battalion shipped out from New Zealand in 1940 they were supposed to land in Egypt. However, it was at the height of the invasion threat in England so the Battalion, with other New Zealand units, was diverted to England and manned defences along the south coast until the threat of invasion passed. 

They then shipped out for the Middle East.

Nick said: "It is highly probable the swagger stick arrived in England in 1940 and for whatever reason remained there – possibly gifted to someone."

The Maori Battalion itself ended up as one of the most highly-decorated units within the New Zealand Division, and the 8th Army, and is still venerated within New Zealand.

Anyone with potential information on the Maori swagger stick can contact Francesca Evans from Nub News on [email protected] so contact information can be passed on to Mr Perry.