Bronwyn Waipuka-Callendar (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou and Rangitāne) portrayed the high-born Rangitāne woman Te Aitū o Te Rangi with the white-tipped tail feathers of the huia in her hair. The now-extinct huia had 12 black tail feathers tipped with white. These feathers were prized above all others as head adornments, and signified chiefly status. In May 2024, a single huia feather was sold at auction in Auckland for $46,521, by far the highest price ever paid for a feather.
Using this item
by Bronwyn Waipuka
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