Scale: About 1:12. A boat model of a waka taua or southern type of Maori war canoe made entirely in wood. The hull has been carved from a single piece of wood with deep washstrakes sewn on either side of the hull, the whole of which is ornately carved and decorated. The bow is also decoratively carved terminating in a tauihu, or bow figurehead, whose eyes are inset with paua shell. The tauihu has two legs (one missing). The decorative carving behind the tauihu is fenestrated. The sides of the hull are decorated with mother of pearl and feather decorations known as puhi. The stern is also highly decorated with a tall carved stern post called a taurapa. There are six thwarts secured to the hull sides with ropes, the tops of which are ornately carved. The model is displayed on a pair of shaped crutches linked by a stretcher, all of which is black lacquered. While the model resembles full sized waka taua in most respects it differs in having a fully carved outer hull, which is more typical of waka huia (chests for holding small taonga including feathers).