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Story: Niueans

Woven hat

Image
Woven hat

This hat, woven from bread bags, plastic and nylon, was made by Niuean weaver Moka Poi in Wellington during the 1990s. In New Zealand weavers still use traditional materials such as pandanus, but have branched out into substitutes such as flax and kiekie and modern materials such as plastic bags, which make surprisingly good hats.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: FE011299

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Carl Walrond, Niueans – Community and culture, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/720/woven-hat (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 July 2024.