T-shirt (Te Vaka A'ua'u)

History

This t-shirt marks the 2006 centenary celebration of the arrival in New Zealand of the vaka (canoe) A'ua'u from the Cook Islands in 1906.

The vaka was brought over by a contingent of Cook Islanders, who had come to New Zealand to participate in what was at the time the largest International Exhibition of Arts and Industries, which was held in Christchurch, and ran for four months from 1st November 1906 to 5th April 1907.

A'ua'u was one of two vaka that was acquired by the Director of the Dominion Museum Augustus Hamilton from the exhibition. A'ua'u is the only surviving example of a nineteenth century style Mangaian vaka.

Materials and construction

This is a large size short sleeved t-shirt with made from black cotton and machine sewn. The t-shirt has been screen printed with a strip of white geometric patterns down the right side. The name and silhouette of Te vaka A'ua'u and the centenary date is printed on the upper left hand chest area of the shirt.

Significance

The t-shirt represents the coming together of Cook Islanders, in particular the Mangaian and Manihiki communities. The centenary celebrations allowed Cook Islands communities to reconnect through the historic relationship they have with the vaka, their histories and other cultural treasures in the Te Papa collections.

References

Cook Islands material culture from the Christchurch Exhibition of 1906-1907: Rediscovering a forgotten collection. Davidson, Janet : Berlin: D.Reimer, 1997. (Journal article).

Rediscovering the collection: Cook Islands material culture in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Akeli, Safua, Hutton, Grace, Mallon, Sean: Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa: 2010. (Tuhunga 21: 99-123).