Ngore (cloak)

This kahu ngore was given to the Paymaster of the 58^th Regiment, then stationed in Auckland, sometime during the late 1840’s or early 1850, when a detachment of officers from the 58^th and members of Bishop Selwyn’s household were invited to attend Christmas dinner by a ‘friendly tribe’.

 

Kahu ngore were once a relatively common cloak and regularly feature in early European paintings, and later photographs, of Maori; especially during the period 1840-1870. The term ngore refers to the pompom that is attached to the kaupapa, or foundation, of the cloak.

 

Kahu ngore in this condition are surprisingly uncommon, with many of the examples in museums collections today in poor condition. This particular cloak is an excellent example of a kahu ngore from this period.