This week a pauku, a Māori cloak that was designed to be worn during warfare, was unveiled in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau after being rediscovered in Durham University’s Oriental Museum in England.
The pauku was designed for strength with lightness, a very desirable quality when fighting, and its complex structure of tightly woven whatu aho pātahi, single pairs of wefts twined together, has been soaked in water and mud to add further strength. After lying in storage for many decades the cloak was identified by Māori researchers and now is being cared for in Auckland Museum. Read more about Māori clothing and adornment here.
Stories like this one are part of a wider movement by museums and galleries and collections to care for cultural artefacts appropriately. This news article explains more and the video included tells how important pieces like this truly are.
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