Successive members of the Tirikātene family of Ngāi Tahu have worn the treasured kahu kiwi (kiwi-feather cloak) shown in this photograph. In 1932 Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, the founder of the Rātana religious and political movement, presented the cloak to Eruera Tirikātene to mark his election as the first Rātana member of Parliament. Eruera later gave it to his daughter, Tini Whetū Marama Tirākatene-Sullivan, a long-serving Labour MP, who wears it in this photo. She in turn gave it to her younger brother Kukupa (left) who has worn it on ceremonial occasions.
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference:
MA_I.278683
Photograph by Norman Heke
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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