Heritage meets inspiration to create artworks that celebrate the future of Maori culture. A new generation of artists have entwined the textile traditions of the past with the creativity of their own imaginations.

The Art of Weaving

Taniko Korowai: Kohikohinga Rau Manu Me Nga Taniko 2003 (detail)
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The most widely used weaving material for cloaks was (and still is) harakeke - otherwise known as New Zealand flax. Rituals were associated with the sourcing and preparation of the harakeke, from the planting of bushes through to harvesting and stripping of the fibre to create muka. Other materials, including feathers and dog skin, were added for warmth and ornamentation.

Traditionally, cloaks were created without a loom. The work was suspended between two upright weaving pegs and woven by hand. Feathers or decorative threads were integrated into the fabric of the garment as the weaving progressed. Natural dyes were used to achieve a variety of colours; paru (swamp mud) was used to achieve a black tone and tanekaha (bark) produced brown.

EXHIBITION GALLERY The Eternal Thread celebrates the changing art of Maori weaving. Visit our gallery to view the marriage of ancient tradition with contemporary culture. Read More ›

The kahu kuri was the most prized of cloaks. It incorporated strips of dog skin. The kuri (native Polynesian dog) came to New Zealand with the first Maori. Kahu kuri were highly treasured and only worn by rangatira (chiefs).

The production of kete was a highly developed art form throughout the Pacific, however new techniques were developed for Aotearoa's different materials. As with cloaks, kete were used for both practical purposes and personal adornment.

Weaving was traditionally done by women and skills were handed down from one generation to the next. Weavers were prized within their tribes. 'Aitia te wahine o te pa harakeke' is a Maori proverb that translates to mean 'Marry the woman who is always at the flax bush, for she is an expert flax worker and an industrious person'.

	Piupiu c. 1990
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Visitors to New Zealand are able to appreciate the fine art of Maori weaving at various venues around the country, including Te Puia. For a totally authentic experience, staying at a Maori marae (village centre) is a way to learn about the art form in context.

The Art of Moko

TA MOKO IMAGE GALLERY The art of moko (ta moko) has withstood time and colonization. It is currently enjoying a renaissance as Maori seek to reconnect with their ancestry. View a selection of tattoos in our gallery. Read More ›

When Joseph Banks encountered the Maori moko en masse on the Endeavour's first voyage to New Zealand, he wrote:

Before the arrival of European settlers, the complex designs of ta moko were literally carved into the skin. A rake-like instrument (uhi matarau), usually made of teeth or bone, was used to break the skin; then a flat edged blade (uhi) was used to tap in the dye, creating a tattoo with a scarred, chiselled appearance.

	peha (mid to lower body tattoo)
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As New Zealand's Maori people are rediscovering their heritage, many are turning towards the art of moko. Ta moko continues to mean what it has always meant; it is a symbol of integrity, Maori identity and prestige, as well as a reflection of Whakapapa (ancestry) and personal history.

EXHIBITION GALLERY Strongly infused with meaning, Maori contemporary art is tactile and powerful. Browse our gallery to see some modern works featured in the Toi Maori exhibition. Read More ›