Kakahu - Maori cloaks

Among the most beautiful and distinctive aspects of New Zealand culture are kākahu, Māori cloaks. They're created not only to adorn people, but to provide shelter and warmth, and to acknowledge their wearer's status.

This coming Friday, respected weavers from around the country will gather at Te Papa for a pohiri, to hui, provide public discussions, and wear the cloaks they've gifted to Aotearoa. Kākahu have been celebrated with the updating and republishing by Te Papa Press of a magnificent book on the subject. 

It's called Whatu Kakahu, and its editor Awhina Tamarapa tells us about it.

Whatu Kakahu Author Awhina Tamarapa

Whatu Kakahu Cover

Kahu Kuri (image courtesy of Te Papa)

KahuToi (image courtesy of Te Papa)

Mangaeka Tihetihe (image courtesy of Te Papa)

Kahu Huruhuru (image courtesy of Te Papa)

KahuKakapo (image courtesy of Perth Museum)

Korowai (image courtesy of Te Papa)

Kahu Kanga (image courtesy of Te Papa)

Hieke Pahuka (image courtesy of Te Papa)

The activity at Te Papa in Te Marae (Rongomaraeroa) open to the public on Friday 16 August:

1.30pm – 2.30pm:  Panel discussion with Awhina Tamarapa and several weavers. Open to the public.

2.30pm – 4.00pm:  Weaving demonstrations by four groups of weavers. Open to the public. 

There will be a special display of contemporary cloaks from the Te Papa collection for the day on Te Marae. We understand that more than 100 weavers, many of them prominent, will attend the day’s celebrations.