Overview
Woven into this prestigious kaitaka (cloak) are the fibres of colonial New Zealand. Angora mohair adorns the main area, sheep’s wool is embroidered into the tāniko (geometric border), and black goat hair forms the fringe. Māori were quick to experiment with these introduced fibres.
The luscious angora makes the cloak appear similar to the chiefly kahu kurī (dog-skin cloaks) of earlier times. The kurī, or Māori dog, was probably rare by the time this cloak was woven. The last purebred dog was seen in 1867 – the same year that angora goats were introduced to New Zealand.