Kākahu kura
Acknowledgements
Copyright Reproduced courtesy of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Creator
Unidentified
Identifiers
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa number ME015838
TLF resource R4206
Source
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, http://www.tepapa.govt.nz
Description
This is a fine kākahu kura made from the feathers of a kākā (native New Zealand parrot, 'Nestor
meridionalis'). The feathers are that of the rare kākā kura (red kākā) and the cloak is sunshine-orange
in colour with a tightly woven cord at the top made from muka (flax fibre), which was used to tie the
cloak on. The fabric of the cloak is also woven from muka and measures 131.0 cm x 112.0 cm.
Educational value
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This asset depicts an object associated with Māori - they used kākā both as a food source and
for feathers, which were valued for their colour and rarity and used to make finely woven
kākahu kura.
It highlights an object that required great skill and expertise to make - the process involved a
finger weaving technique called whatu, consisting of whenu (warp threads) and aho (weft
threads).
It illustrates an important facet of Māori craft and culture - weaving is considered by Māori to
have its own life force and is accorded a level of respect depending on the mana (status) of
the weaver and the qualities of the weaving.
It highlights a taonga (treasure) - because of the rarity of kākā kura and the high level of skill
required to weave a cloak from their feathers, kākahu kura was a garment reserved for ariki
(chiefs) of high status and was worn on special occasions.
It gives a sense of the place of kākā kura in Māori society - some claimed kākā kura acted as
leaders that hovered above the flock and shepherded it from one whakarua (feeding ground)
to another, a notion that added to their value as a status symbol.
It portrays a rare taonga that is one of only two kākahu kura in New Zealand museums.
It shows a taonga that was returned to New Zealand through the family of the American
serviceman who had received the cloak from a Māori chief when stationed in the Taupō region
(central North Island) during the Second World War.
© Curriculum Corporation and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2006, except where
indicated under Acknowledgements
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