Collection Search

Complete kahu huruhuru. There are kiwi feathers in the centre of the kahu huruhuru, with a green feather border; 5cm on the left side and 6cm border on the right side.There is a purple and grey herringbone stitch border at the top edge, and a gold and black twine at the bottom edge. There are two lengths of harakeke twine with loops at the end that are worked along the top edge, approximately 15cm from the right and left sides.

Flax fibre, decorated on front only with peacock, pheasant and domestic fowl feathers. There is one visible orange kaka feather on this kete woven in towards the centre of the body. Front extends as flap and folds over to back, loop on each side to button. (non-matching white and cream buttons. Warps held in place with double pair twine. Six bands of cross over stitch - alternate red and black which overlie warps (held with same weft rows) on back, flap and two rows front. Sides of flap bound with black fabric. Two whiri (braids) used as handles, with decorative tassels at end.

Kete Muka woven from natural muka (flax fiber). Woven using whatu aho rua (two-pair weft-twining). The kaupapa (body) of this kete is decorated with mawhitiwhiti (woven cross stitch) patterns. Frill work woven edge attached after initial weaving. X2 three ply muka whiri (braids) with tassels have been added to function as handles

Complete mōkihi (raft) made of reeds and other plant material, bundled together and tied with unscraped flax. Pieces of twisted flax and other fibre attached in the centre and at one end. Lenticular shape. Interior is very shallow, with a deeper portion cut at each end.

Wooden adze haft. Handle is round in cross section and chisel marks visible on surface, darkened near the grip. Triangular platform at the distal end, with notches and a deep groove at the edge. A mount is lashed with plaited fibre into the hollow groove, projecting beyond the platform. The mount has a deep rectangular groove, open at one end, for inserting an adze. It appears to be made using metal tools.

Complete kahu kuri cloak. The kaupapa (body) is woven in close, single pair pukapuka (twining) except for occasional rows of whatuaho rua (double pair twining) which are woven tightly with a small gap used for a guide to sew the dogskin strip. The kurupatu (fringe collar) is made with a dogskin strip. The kahu kuri is covered with small tufts of dog fur, lighter around the sides, darker through the middle. There are areas of the cloak where the fur has thinned, showing the dog skin strips. The edges of the cloak, under the fur, are woven with darker fibres, in an almost chevron pattern. There is a modern support pillow and velcro strip attached to the inside of the cloak.

A finely woven variation of a konae, a two cornered bag made with an even number of whenu (strands) from a folded square base. Woven with natural harakeke in a takirua (over two, under two) pattern. Remains of a braided tapiki (finish) that has been used internally can be visualised. A muka cord has then been attached to this kete to create a pouch drawstring

Part of a Paraerae sandal woven from harakeke (flax). Two whenu (strands) are overlaid for reinforcement using the takitahi (over one, under one method), the strands used and method are similar to fragment 'F'.

Part of a Paraerae sandal woven from harakeke (flax). Two whenu (strands) are overlaid for reinforcement and woven using a takirua (over two, under two) pattern. This fragment uses smaller whenu (strands) and has a different method of tapiki (finish) to the other fragments and is likely to be from a different paraerae.

Part of a Paraerae sandal woven from harakeke (flax). Two whenu (strands) are overlaid for reinforcement and woven using the takitahi (over one, under one method). This piece shows a tapiki (finish) along the heel end with a trimmed harakeke cushioning element adhered with a looping technique, however due to the width and thickness of the whenu (strands) used in the weaving, it is unlikely to have originally been a part of the other fragments.

Remains of a three ply whiri (braid) of harakeke, its purpose is unknown.

Possibly the toe end of a sandal woven from harakeke (flax). Two whenu (strands) are overlaid for reinforcement using the takitahi (over one, under one method), the strands used and method are similar to fragment 'B'.

Kete containing five kahawai lures. Kete is in the style of an envelope with a V-shaped fold-over flap. Made of unscraped flax in a pattern created by changing direction of basic over two, under two plait. Made as a tube, cast off along upper edge, opening and flap, by folding over and through other strands. Final bringing together of sides along base. Twisted muka cord attached to corners and at centre of flap. All five kahawai lures: Curved wooden shank with shell inlay. Curved bone point with internal barb attached with muka at the base and with a cord at the head. B and F have some organic material, possibly part of a feather quill also lashed at the base. C, D, and E have metal wire lashed at the base in addition to the muka lashings.

Complete korowai (cloak with twisted tags). The kaupapa (main body) is flax with twisted whenu (strands) tags added across the surface. The side borders are ornamented with paru-dyed flax and edged with feathers. The weft strands of the side borders are alternating blocks of red and green wool, and blocks of natural fibre. The bottom of the side panels have degraded and much of the dyed flax has been lost. The bottom edge of the kaupapa is ornamented by a tasselled woollen edging alternating dark purple, brown, yellow and cream. Woven into the base of the kaupapa are five whenu (strands) of wool, alternating red and dark purple, finishing with a whiri (plait) of red and green woven together. The top edge is ornamented with whenu of both wool and flax and a flax tasselling. At the top corners additional coloured wool tags have been added, along with longer flax tags for securing the garment.

Paraerae (sandal) woven from harakeke (flax). Two whenu (strands) are overplayed for reinforcement and woven using the takirua (over two, under two) pattern. Braided tapiki (finish) along the heel ends with long harakeke (50mm) added as a cushioning element adhered via looping and threading through wefts. Three ply whiri (braid) woven with muka (flax fiber) is threaded in six loops around the outside of the sandal and a muka cord formed using the miro (rolled) is tied to the side of the sandal.

Single Poi Kanga (corn husk poi). Corn husk has been wrapped longitudinally from the internal base of the cob around spherical ball or stuffing and secured with muka (flax fibre) cord. Evidence of burn marks to the outside leaves. Muka cord formed via miro (rolling) inserted into top of poi terminating in a knot. Early and modern weavers frequently experimented with corn husk in weaving due to its easy availability, ease of preparation and its ability to mimic or replicate natural native materials.

Complete pake (rain cape) made of flax and tussock. Thick plaited muka fibre at the top edge, with smaller plaited ties attached. Top third is bordered with a shorter layer of fibre. Bottom edge is uneven.

Dressed flax. The bundle is tied with the thread holding on the accession number. The bundle is matted together.

Dressed flax. The bundle is tied with a length of thicker flax. The bundle comes to a knot at one end. The other end is loose.