Tokotoko
{{Short description|Traditional Māori ceremonial walking stick}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
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.{{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}}
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.