Māori orators' staffs are known as tokotoko. They are a symbol of authority, usually held during formal speeches. This staff is one of a pair used in 1963 when Queen Elizabeth II attended celebrations for Waitangi Day. The ceremony marks the anniversary of the treaty made between Māori and Queen Victoria in 1840, in which the queen pledged protection for the indigenous peoples of the islands. At the top of the staff is a figure with an open mouth and a large, protruding tongue – a sign of defiance used in Māori war dances (haka) to intimidate opponents. The expression features heavily in the stylised figures of Māori woodcarving.