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Story: Clothes

Māori in traditional and European dress, 1864

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Māori in traditional and European dress, 1864

Māori quickly adopted European dress and mixed traditional garments with shirts, trousers, dresses, skirts and blankets. Most of these people are wearing mainly European clothes, though the figure in the centre has a traditional kahu (cloak).

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

Reference: 1989/29

by John Symons

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Fiona McKergow, Clothes – Clothing and identity, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/41163/maori-in-traditional-and-european-dress-1864 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Fiona McKergow, published 18 March 2013.