Cloak

A kaitaka (cloak) made of muka (processed New Zealand Flax). The cloak has narrow tāniko side borders in brown and natural and (on one side) touches of red. Wide brown and natural tāniko border with vertical double diamond motifs at the bottom. Some double diamonds are outlined in red, and some smaller elements (diamonds and triangles) are filled in with red or light blue-green.

The kaitaka is a Māori cloak renowned for its fine, silken texture. Made from muka (processed flax fiber) extracted from specially selected varieties of harakeke (New Zealand flax), the kaitaka has a distinctive golden sheen. These cloaks are typically large, designed to wrap around the wearer multiple times. The characteristic feature of a kaitaka is its tāniko borders, bands of intricate, multi-coloured geometric patterns woven along the sides and bottom edges.