| Native Name | Kahu Kiwi |
| Object Number | P3081B |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Maori |
| Provenience | New Zealand |
| Period | Te Huringa I Period |
| Date Made | 1800 - 1900 CE |
| Section | Oceanian |
| Materials | New Zealand Flax | Kiwi Feather | Parrot Feather |
| Technique | Twined |
| Description | A kahu kiwi (feather cloak) made with a foundation of muka (processed New Zealand flax), to which are attached small bundles of brown kiwi and red kākā (parrot) feathers. Decorative borders (tāniko) of twined black, brown, and natural flax along the bottom and two sides. Short fringes of twisted flax at top corners. Two twisted ties for securing when worn. The kahu kiwi is a cloak adorned entirely with kiwi feathers. These cloaks are made by carefully attaching thousands of feathers from kiwis to a finely woven muka (flax fiber) base. Each feather is bent and woven into the weft rows using a method similar to that used in rain capes, with the feather shaft folded back on itself to hold it securely in place. The process is incredibly time-consuming and requires immense skill and patience. Each kahu kiwi is a taonga (treasure), worn during significant events, serving as a powerful symbol of whakapapa (ancestry) and mana (power). |
| Length | 105.5 cm |
| Width | 132 cm |
| Credit Line | Purchased from the J. C. Stevens Auction Rooms, 1912 |
| Other Number | 27563 - Dealer's Number | 56a - Dealer's Number |
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