Teremoe was once a waka taua – a war canoe. It belonged to Te Reimana Te Kaporere and Matene Rangitauira, leaders from the upper Whanganui River. In the 1860s, during the New Zealand Wars, it was used in battles on the river. Teremoe also spent many years as a trading vessel.

The hull is made from native tōtara wood.

The boards above the hull were carved after Teremoe was given to the museum in the 1930s. The sternpost and prow were added too.

Teremoe is so long, it had to be craned into this building through a window!

Look inside the waka from the ramp behind it.