Overview
This striking kahu kiwi (kiwi feather cloak) holds importance in the birds used to create it (image 1). A collection of taonga Māori (treasured items) was described as “A handsome gift” when it was bequeathed to the then Dominion Museum (now Te Papa) by a private owner in 1918. Among the items was this distinctive cloak, a kahu kiwi (ME003714) that conceals 12 bunches of 4-6 black feathers from the now extinct huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) (image 2).
Kiwi feather cloaks (Kahu kiwi) were made to represent prestige and mana (status and authority). The discovery of these hidden huia feathers suggests it is possible that the huia feathers were incorporated to discreetly confirm the significance of the wearer. Huia represented Rangatiratanga (chieftainship) because it was so rare and unique, which makes its inclusion in this cloak in Te Papa’s collection an important find. As the last official sighting of this enchanting bird was in 1907, it is likely this cloak was made around or just before 1900, and constructed using a bird from the North Island as archaeological records indicate huia were located naturally throughout the North Island of New Zealand only (Gill et. al. 2010).
The anatomy of feather identification
Scientific methods can be useful in understanding and recovering Māori knowledge from researching the museum’s taonga Māori collection. In 2007, microscopic analyses of feather down were implemented for the identification of birds in 110 Māori cloaks held in Te Papa’s collection (Harwood 2011a). Reference image databases of feather down micro-structure from different New Zealand bird orders and from Te Papa’s bird skin collection assisted in the positive identification of feathers from more than 16 native and 8 introduced bird species in Te Papa’s Māori cloaks.
Contour (body) feathers were used as reference for microscopic analysis. A typical contour feather consists of a central rachis or shaft and pennaceous barbs towards the top (the feather tip) which may have hooks linking the barbs together to increase strength and protection. Towards the base of the feather are the downy or plumulaceous barbs, with smaller barbules branching off which contribute to insulate the bird. These smaller downy barbules have nodes and sometimes prongs which provide diagnostic features to identify each bird order (image 3).
All bird species are classified into many “Orders”, a taxonomic term that helps distinguish different groups sharing common features. Huia are classified as a passerine or perching bird, belonging to the Order Passeriformes. As each bird order has a distinctive microscopic structure of the feather down, it was possible to determine that the cloak feathers originated from a passerine. Under the microscope passerines have straight, thick short-medium length barbules, with dark triangular quadri-lobed nodes shortly spaced all along the barbules (image 4). Also distinctive to passerines including huia are villi or cilia that are described as flattened transparent growths at the base of the barbules. Huia feathers also have knobbed villi (image 4). A positive microscopic identification of huia feathers in this cloak was made possible by comparing a cloak feather to a reference huia feather. Reference feather images from huia bird skins in Te Papa’s bird collection assisted in the verification of huia breast and belly feathers being utilised in this kahu kiwi. Considering that so few huia feathers were used in the cloak (100 max), they likely originated from just one bird.
Signs of the weavers
This cloak uses very dark brown kiwi (Apteryx spp.) feathers. The 12 bunches of huia feathers are placed across the middle of the cloak. The kiwi and huia feathers were woven with the underside of the feather facing outward to make the cloak appear lustrous and full and the wearer bigger. While the foundation comprises muka (stripped harakeke or flax: Phormium spp.), the sides and neck incorporate coloured wool. It is fragile and some of the muka has disintegrated and a permanent backing of maroon fabric was attached at some stage possibly in an attempt to salvage it.
In her book “Weaving a kakahu”, Diggeress Te Kanawa (renowned Ngāti Maniapoto, and Ngāti Kinohaku weaver) recalls the weavers of old adding huia in feather cloaks (Te Kanawa 1992). This kahu kiwi was the first feather cloak in Te Papa’s collection where huia has been positively identified. Before the identifications of Te Papa’s cloaks were carried out in 2007, these feathers had never been recorded before. The presence of huia feathers in this kahu kiwi likely represents the high status of the original owner or intended wearer. The incorporation of certain feathers hidden amongst other feathers can possibly also indicate the significance of the bird to the weaver, particularly as these feathers are not clearly seen without closely inspecting the cloak. It is theorised that weavers would communicate information through the use of certain materials in their kakahu giving us information about the wearer, the weaver, an event or the personal importance or relationship of the bird to the maker. (Harwood 2011b).
In pre-European times huia tail feathers were often worn in the hair by Māori of rank as the 12 unique black and white tipped tail feathers of the huia represented chieftainship (Rangatiratanga) (image 5). Huia feathers were gifted or traded between iwi (people) for other taonga (treasures) to create and maintain important tribal relationships. They were also given to non-Māori as a sign of respect and acknowledgement.
References:
Gill BJ, Bell BD, Chambers GK, Medway DG, Palma RL, Scofield RP, Tennyson AJD, Worthy TH (2010) Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. Wellington, Te Papa Press, in association with the Ornithological Society of New Zealand.
Harwood HP (2011a) The identification and description of feathers in Te Papa’s Māori cloaks. Tuhinga 22: 125-47. Online paper.
Harwood HP (2011b) Nga tohu o nga kairaranga: the signs of the weavers. (Paper presented at the Contained Memory Conference, Wellington 2010). Memory connection 1(1): 437-450. Online pdf.
Te Kanawa D (1992) Weaving a kakahu. Wellington, Bridget Williams Books Ltd, in association with Aotearoa Moananui a Kiwa Weavers.