Souvenir scarf

History This souvenir scarf was collected in Fiji in the 1960s. This was a period of immense expansion in international airline travel combined with a reduction in prices, making air travel more accessible for the masses. Subsequently, many places in the Pacific region became destinations for tourist leisure and recreation. Souvenir and handicraft production in Fiji increased dramatically due to the large number of tourist visitors in the 1960s and new merchandise and products such as scarfs, were developed to meet the demand of this new market.

Acquisition History

This scarf was gifted to Caroline Hutton (1922-2002) in the 1960s by her sister Nono Marsters. Born on Palmerson atoll in the Cook Islands, Hutton travelled to and setttled in New Zealand in the 1940s.  Grace Hutton, daughter of Caroline Hutton then offered the scarf to Te Papa Tongarewa in 2014.

References

Mahina-Tuai, K. “A land of milk and honey? Education and employment migration schemes in the postwar era’. Mallon, S.,Mahina-Tuai, K.and Salesa, D. (eds.)Tangata o le Moana: New Zealand and the people of the Pacific.(Wellington, Te Papa Press, 2012).