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Story: Māori clothing and adornment – kākahu Māori

Kākāpō-feather cloak

Kākāpō-feather cloak

Some 11,000 kākāpō feathers adorn this remarkable cloak, probably made in the early 19th century. Kākāpō-feather cloaks are rare, and were worn by people of high status. This example is held in Perth Museum, Scotland. It is thought to be the only cloak fully covered in kākāpō feathers held by a museum.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: MA_I278949

Copyright and courtesy of the Perth Museum & Art Gallery, Perth & Kinross council, Scotland

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

Awhina Tamarapa rāua ko Patricia Wallace, Māori clothing and adornment – kākahu Māori – Adapting to new lands and climate, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/40987/kakapo-feather-cloak (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Awhina Tamarapa rāua ko Patricia Wallace, published 4 March 2013.

Comments

Verne Barrett
18 June 2018
I feel this cloak should be respectfully returned to Aoteoroa as a national treasure