Story: Māori clothing and adornment – kākahu Māori

Pōhoi toroa – albatross-feather ear ornament

Both men and women traditionally pierced their ears to display pendants, feathers and other ornaments in them. In this 1840 watercolour by Charles Heaphy, Ngāti Toa chief Te Rangihaeata wears a pōhoi toroa, a ball-shaped ear ornament made of albatross feathers. He also has huia feathers in his hair and is wearing a kahu kiwi (kiwi-feather cloak) denoting his high status.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-025-022

by Charles Heaphy

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

Awhina Tamarapa rāua ko Patricia Wallace, Māori clothing and adornment – kākahu Māori – Amulets and ornaments, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/41022/pohoi-toroa-albatross-feather-ear-ornament (accessed 4 June 2026).

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

Comments

Jeannine Hagger
04 June 2020

I couldn't get enough of this site. Thank you so much for allowing many of us who only know very little to be able to read and learn of some of the history and the beauty of korowai and so much more. Thank you again. I have learnt so much