A Kākahu To Be Worn

For the opening of Te Papa Tongarewa | Museum of New Zealand in 1998, Erenora Puketapu-Hetet was commissioned to weave a kahukiwi that continues to be worn today.

The kahu huruhuru is adorned with kiwi feathers, along with feathers from toroa, pūkeko and kākā. The birds had died naturally and were collected by the Department of Conservation before Erenora plucked, prepared and wove the feathers into the kākahu.

Erenora believed kākahu should not be consigned to being displayed behind glass as museum artefacts, but should continue to be worn as part of a living tradition.

At her suggestion, the kahu huruhuru is given to distinguished manuhiri at Te Papa to wear and is also worn on other special occasions by guests of the New Zealand Government.

The first person to wear the kahu huruhuru was Cliff Whiting, the inaugural Kaihautū (Māori Co-leader) of Te Papa Tongarewa. Below are memories of some of the people and occasions connected to the kākahu over the years.

Each time a kākahu is worn, it gathers the memory of the people and occasions connected to it.

By wearing kākahu, we remind ourselves that they are part of a living heritage.
And if they wear out, as Erenora used to say:

“We’ll have to weave more - and that way we won’t forget how to weave them.”

Pictured above: Dame Cindy Kiro at her investiture as Governor General for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Pictured above (left to right): 
Paraone Gloyne reciting karakia at the Dawn Ceremony for the Inaugural National Mataariki Public Holiday ; 
Prince William at the opening of the Supreme Court in Wellington; Santo Versace on a visit to Te Papa;
Major General Peter Kelly of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata.