It is also recorded that huia tail feathers were used in ancient times to make a special kind of war headdress, the 12-feathered marereko. Huia feathers were so treasured that specially carved boxes called waka huia were made to store them safely .
What do feathers represent in Māori culture?
The huia feather is a revered treasure for Māori and symbolises leadership and mana . The feathers from the tail of the huia were particularly prized and were worn in the hair or around the neck by both men and women. Feathers were often stored in intricately carved boxes known as wakahuia.
Did Māori wear dreadlocks?
Origins: The style originated in Afirca though in ancient times, it has been worn by the Maori people of New Zealand and even the Spartans of Ancient Greece.
What did Māori wear?
Māori wore a wide range of hairstyles and ornaments, skin colourings and oils, as well as facial or body tattoos. Clothing consisted of shoulder and waist garments, belts and sometimes sandals . People adorned themselves with a range of neck and ear pendants, and carried prized weapons in formal situations.
What feathers are used in Māori cloaks?
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.
Who would wear a huia feather?
Huia feathers
The huia became extinct because its feathers were prized by both Māori and Pākehā . Huia had 12 black tail feathers tipped with white. These could be worn singly, or the entire tail might be smoke-dried and worn in the hair.
What does the huia feather represent?
For Māori the huia was revered as a symbol of nobility, leadership and hierarchy. The white-tipped tail feathers were worn as head adornments to signify chiefs and people of great mana (authority and power) .
Why is the head Tapu in Māori?
Tapu can be interpreted as “sacred” but also “not ordinary”, “special” or even forbidden. It is one of the strongest forces in Māori culture. ... That's why you should avoid sitting on pillows and touching or passing food over a person's head, since it's considered very sacred by Māori people .
What does hair mean to Māori?
As well as indicating high status, hairstyles could convey other messages. Wearing the hair unkempt (known as rapa ) was a sign of being tapu. Rapa mamae was similar, the hair being a sign of mourning, generally for one whose death was not yet avenged.
What does tapu mean in New Zealand?
Tapu is the strongest force in Māori life. It has numerous meanings and references. Tapu can be interpreted as ‘sacred' , or defined as ‘spiritual restriction', containing a strong imposition of rules and prohibitions. A person, object or place that is tapu may not be touched or, in some cases, not even approached.
What's a Māori cloak called?
The Kākahu (Maori cloak) was a garment made in early Maori times and was generally woven or made from traditional materials like flax and feathers. They are worn as a mantle of prestige and honour.
Who wears Korowai cloaks?
It's a korowai, a garment woven with feathers and steeped in history, tradition and cultural significance. Worn by Maori on special occasions, it surprised some when it turned up in London at the Commonwealth Summit. But it's not that unusual. The Queen also wears one whenever she visits New Zealand.
Why do Māori wear black?
Black was the colour of Maori ta moko and woven attire, and signified the void from which the world began . During the Victorian period, it remained a marker of status but for women it started to dissipate in the Edwardian era.
What do Māori cloaks represent?
Māori cloaks are most commonly worn on special occasions, whether a significant hui and coming together of people, or a significant graduation or birthday. The cloaks hold stories of our history or whānau [family] and whakapapa [genealogy]. They're held in the highest regard and worn with the highest form of respect.
What is the difference between Korowai and Kakahu?
Weaver Veranoa Hetet gives Stuff a beginners lesson on the differences between Māori cloaks. ... Hetet said the umbrella term for Māori cloaks is kākahu, and the style Ardern wore was a kahu huruhuru , as it was decorated in feathers, while the headline using ‘korowai' travelled the world.
What is a Huia bird?
The huia was a magpie-sized glossy black bird . In fresh plumage, the black feathers had a green and bluish-purple metallic sheen. The long black tail feathers had 2-3 cm white-tips, forming a bold white band across the tail-tip. The bill was pale ivory grading to bluish-grey at the base, and yellow at the gape.
