Summary

Kahuhuruhuru is the name for this type of cloak made of fine fibres made from flax or whitau. Cloaks often have a decorative border, or taniko, made with dyed flax, and it was usually woven by men working only in daylight and under a roof. Kiwi feathers could then be attached to the garment at which time it would be called kahuhuruhuro kiwi. To enhance the appearance of the cloak, the base of each feather was knotted with the shaft facing downwards so the feathers fell outwards when the cloak was worn. A few highly treasured red feathers of the parrot, or Kaka, are visible on a part of this cloak. Like all such treasures, the cloaks were made under tapu - strict rules expressed as the wishes of the ancestors. When the cloaks were finished, tapu had to be lifted in order for the cloaks to be safe for anyone to touch or wear. These garments were second only to those made of dog skins, and as such were highly regarded and worn on special occasions and at all ceremonies by individuals of high rank. A feather cloak was also be worn by the groom during a marriage ceremony.

Local Name

Kahuhuruhuru

Physical Description

The cloak is woven from flax fibres closely worked and decorated with kiwi feathers. It also has a small number of parrot feathers embedded within the kiwi feathers. One border is done with dyed flax woven into a geometric pattern.

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