Feather Cloak (kahu huruhuru)

Feathers from a variety of birds were used to decorate prestigious finger-woven cloaks, such as this one. Made without the use of a loom, but rather from a pair of upright sticks at either side, cloaks were woven by single- or two-pair weft-twining. For this cloak, made as a presentation gift, female weavers combined principally white and green kererū, or New Zealand pigeon, feathers to create a checkerboard pattern. Blue-black tūī, red kākā (parrot), and light green kākāriki (parakeet) feathers add color and beauty. The top of the cloak is trimmed with black wool. Worn by men and women, these cloaks assumed characteristics or traits associated with particular birds. Kiwi feather capes indicated prestige and rarity, while red kākā feathers alluded to fine oratory skills of the bird and the chief that wore such a cloak. According to Māori belief, birds are the children of Tāne, god of the forest, and act as intermediaries between the sacred realm of gods ("atua") and the human world.