26 May 2025
When you walk through the carefully climate-controlled storerooms of the Whakatāne Museum, it's not just taonga you see – it's stories. Stories painted into canvas, carved into wood, woven in fibre, history threaded through feathers, whakapapa recorded in stitches.
Our visit was to see two extraordinary kākahu created by the renowned weaver Marata Te Ao Tangohau (Tūhoe), each a testament to the enduring legacy of Māori knowledge, artistry, and care. One of the kākahu we visited is labelled MP 914, and is part of the Beckett Whānau Collection, gifted by Mr Peter Beckett. This kahukiwi features a muka (flax fibre) base adorned with kiwi feathers, and is trimmed on three sides with kererū, weka, and white feathers. It is woven using whatu ahorua (double-pair twining), a traditional weaving technique that exemplifies finely crafted garments.
As explained during our visit by Mark Sykes, Manager of Collections and Research, the care of taonga Māori, especially textiles, is a specialised practice.
“Taonga Māori, especially textiles, are stored under specific environmental conditions while in our care, to preserve them for future generations. Our responsibility extends beyond the physical care of these taonga—we also uphold and teach the significance of te wairua o ngā taonga,” Mark says.
He described how their team begins each day with karakia, followed by checking each whare taonga and offering mihimihi to each space. Tikanga guides their everyday practices, including karakia, correct handling of taonga, appropriate behaviour, and respectful language.
Mark also noted that part of their work involves supporting whānau and hapū.
“Our role is to educate and support whānau and hapū, particularly on marae, by sharing knowledge and offering practical advice tailored to what is available in their own whare.”
He acknowledged that trust can be a barrier to access and engagement.
“One of the barriers I have experienced is building trust with our people to share their taonga and pūrākau. This often involves kanohi ki te kanohi, hui, cups of tea, and connections through whakapapa.”
Mark emphasised the importance of Māori presence in museum spaces.
“As Māori working in whare taonga and museums, we have a role to encourage our whānau and hapū to visit, enquire, and ask questions. This is made easier when they can engage with Māori kaimahi who understand and uphold our values.”
Hāniko Te Kurapa, Senior Manager of Te Kaupapa o Toi Aotearoa at Creative New Zealand, also a descendant of Marata Te Ao Tangohau, says seeing his tipuna's work so lovingly cared for was a powerful experience.
“My grandfather, Te Kurapa Te Ao Tangohau, and Marata Te Ao Tangohau were siblings. So, for me, caring for taonga has always been a priority,” says Haniko.
Hāniko also reflected on the significance of the work Mark and his team does to care for all taonga tuku iho housed with them as he understands what a big job it is, having done similar work before coming to Creative New Zealand.
“I entered into the museum world in the late 80s and was privileged to learn very quickly from experts the importance of manaakitanga of taonga and that each taonga had a whakapapa whether it was a kahu huruhuru (feather cloak) or carvings, and each one needed special care,” says Haniko.
The museum actively engages with the community by providing access to taonga and offering experiences in weaving, whakairo, and pūrākau. They have hosted wānanga tāmoko, weaving wānanga, PhD presentations in partnership with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and welcomed kaumātua, kura kaupapa Māori, and community educators into their space.
Mark says that by caring for our taonga tuku iho, we ensure that the knowledge and techniques passed down by our tīpuna remain visible and respected. The traditions seen in the kākahu woven by Marata Te Ao Tangohau – from harvesting and preparing muka to gathering natural resources – continue to live on today.
With museums and whānau working together, it’s clear that the future of kākahu care lies not just in climate control and storage techniques, but in a shared understanding that these garments are living taonga, bridging the past and the future with every thread.
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