Off the shoulder top

This is an off the shoulder garment made from panels of coconut leaf sheath. There is a large flower decorates the left shoulder. Three individual rosettes line the upper edge where I descends below the right arm. The trimming that lines the edges of the garment is made of woven pandanus leaf.

Significance

In 2010, the Te Lauhigano Tokelau group from Porirua, New Zealand gifted this garment and other items to Te Papa. The gifts symbolise the ongoing relationship the museum has with the Tokelau community. Te Lauhigano Tokelau was formed by Tokelauans to promote community development among their community in Porirua. The group was a formal Community Development project for the Wellington Regional Office of the Department of Internal Affairs.

Community development advisors from Internal Affairs worked with the group to ensure their access to resources, training, funding, workshops that would assist them in building their capacity to deliver to their community.

In September 2009, Te Lauhigano Tokelau held a week long annual general meeting which over 100 members attended. At the meeting they found that as New Zealand based Tokelau people, they have lost many aspects of their indigenous Tokelau culture.The objects represent Te Lauhigano Tokelau’s effort to ensure that future generations of Tokelauans learn the history and culture of who they are.

Acquisition history

This garment is part of a collection of items was manufactured and presented to Te Papa by members of Te Lauhigano Tokelau in February 2010.