Story: Ngāpuhi

Making rope

Making rope

Rāhiri and Āhuaiti had a son, Uenuku. After he and Āhuaiti separated, Rāhiri had a second son named Kaharau with Whakaruru. The two sons fought for their birthright. As part of a peacemaking process, Rāhiri instructed them to make a flax rope. This photograph from the 1920s or 1930s shows two unidentified Māori making rope.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, H. N. Whitehead Collection (PAColl-3068)
Reference: G-4489-1/1

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Rāwiri Taonui, 'Ngāpuhi - Ancestors', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4146/making-rope (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2017