Tokotoko

{{Short description|Traditional Māori ceremonial walking stick}} {{One source|date=September 2025}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} thumbnail|Tokotoko in Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand. A '''tokotoko''' is a traditional Māori carved ceremonial walking stick. On a marae it is a symbol of authority and status for the speaker holding it.<ref name=TalkingPoles>{{cite web|title=Tokotoko|url=http://www.southwaikato.govt.nz/our-district/arts-and-culture/talking-poles/Pages/Details/Tokotoko.aspx|publisher=South Waikato District Council|accessdate=7 May 2018}}</ref>

Poets from New Zealand who win the award of New Zealand Poet Laureate are presented with a tokotoko, typically by a National Librarian of New Zealand.

==See also== *Ruyi (scepter) *Talking stick *Cane

==References== {{reflist}} {{Māori}} Category:Māori culture

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