Story: Castaways

These clothes are from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. In 1867 the New Zealand government established depots to provide emergency rations for castaways. Among the provisions were thick woollen suits to protect castaways from the crippling cold of the Auckland Islands. Their distinctive pattern was designed to ensure that the suits would always be recognisable and, therefore, would not be stolen by passing sealers.