Pulou (hat)

This Panama-styled pulou (hat) was made and worn by Moka Poi in Auckland in the 1990s. It is made primarily from red strips of plastic bread bags woven together. The decoration consists of a headband made from small white plastic flower beads highlighted with the odd green leaf and two large red synthetic flowers. This pulou demonstrates the response of Niue hat-makers to new materials and new creative opportunities here in New Zealand.

Significance
People take their cultures with them wherever they travel. In New Zealand, skilled practitioners from various Pacific communities continue to pass on customary arts such as weaving and hat-making. Pacific weavers in New Zealand apply their knowledge to working with local materials, such as flax, raffia, and synthetic tubing. The weavers' ability to adapt and innovate is evident in their use of new materials, creation of new forms, and the new uses they find for the items they create.

Weaving groups
Pacific weavers in New Zealand often work in groups. These groups are like fibres, connecting different generations back to their island homelands. They provide a setting where people can share knowledge and interact in their own language. Weaving can be a way to earn money, but, perhaps more importantly, it can build a sense of cultural connection and pride, especially for Pacific people born in New Zealand.