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Overview
This kahu kiwi was collected by Alexander H. Turnbull (1868-1918) and presented to the Dominion Museum by him in 1913 along with about 630 Māori and 535 'South Sea' items. Turnbull, described as a 'merchant, bibliophile and collector' was also the founder of the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington.
Construction
This kahu kiwi is one of the most luxurious Te Papa has in its collection. An above-average number of five to six feathers per whatu (weft-twined) stroke creates its lush look, and is also evidence of how readily available kiwi feathers were in the past. The feathers are brown kiwi (Apteryx sp.) and all of the body feathers have been utilised. A row of four single albino kiwi feathers has been deliberately placed in the cloak, approximately 300 mm from the lower border. The kiwi feathers are placed so they lift upward. This technique is called 'whakaaraara' and creates movement witht he slightest breeze.
The kaupapa (body) of the kahu kiwi is muka twined in whatu aho rua (two-pair weft twining) technique, measuring six whenu (warp threads) per centimetre and with around 8mm spacing between each aho (weft row). Groups of feathers are attached aproximately every ten whatu strokes on alternate rows. The upper aho poka (shaping rows) are six rows of simple elliptical inserts 300 mm from the top of the cloak, and the lower aho poka are four rows of compound elliptical inserts 180 mm from the bottom of the cloak. On both side edges there is a 35 mm decrease in the whenu threads.
Tāniko
The tāniko side and lower borders are a variation or the aronui pattern in natural and gold- and black-dyed muka. The whenu measure eigth per centimetre. The lower border has three rows of supplementary weft twists in yellow and black muka at the join with the main kaupapa, and a finish of a single spiral twost in yellow muka thread. The top of the cloak has three rows of supplementary weft twsts in black and yellow muka, followed by a two-element finish.
A number of ends at the top edge have not been turned in and closely trimmed like the rest of the neck edge. This finish has a practical function as hand-holds or is used to tie the top of the cloak together, a technique that is being revived by modern day weavers.
This text is based on an excerpt from Whatu Kakahu|Maori Cloaks (second edition), edited by Awhina Tamarapa, © Te Papa Press 2019.