Awhina Tamarapa: biography and 10 questions about Whatu Kākahu | Māori Cloaks
Awhina Tamarapa, editor of Whatu Kākahu | Māori Cloaks discusses her work with Te Papa Press.
Whatu Kākahu | Māori Cloaks (Second Edition)
A celebration of the science and art of Māori weaving, focused on the largest collection of Māori cloaks in the world.
Edited by Awhina Tamarapa
Publication: August 2019
Pages: 224
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 978-0-9951136-3-3
RRP: $75
Buy Whatu Kākahu
This award-winning book unlocks the doors of Te Whare Pora o Hine-te-iwaiwa, the Te Papa storeroom, to reveal one of the largest collection of kākahu in the world.
Informative essays by expert contributors outline the intricate techniques employed in kākahu construction and also explain the tradition and spiritual significance of weaving. A major section examines forty kākahu from the Te Papa collection in detail, revealing their often remarkable provenance.
In this revised edition, a new chapter celebrates stunning contemporary kākahu that have come into the Te Papa collection since 2011. It also discusses the care and continuity of Māori cloak weaving from the viewpoint of weaving practitioners, researchers and museum custodians.
Illustrated throughout with stunning photographs showing the immense beauty of these taonga, Whatu Kākahu | Māori Cloaks is an unparalleled celebration of the mātauranga, science, and art of Māori weaving.
Reviews
Whatu Kākahu in Scoop “ranging from the primitive and precious, through the unique and prestigious, to their contemporary reincarnation, Whatu Kākahu is the definitive description of Māori cloaks in Te Papa’s collections. Illustrated throughout with stunning photographs that document the subtle beauty of these cultural treasures …”
It also recieved a double page review in the November-December 2019 issue of NZ Geographic; “… a definitive work on the subject, showcases 40 distinctive kākahu from Te Papa’s large collection … Beautifully illustrated and richly informative …”
Awards
Whatu Kākahu was highly commended for the Best Art Writing by a NZ Māori or Pasifika award in the 2019 AAANZ awards.
About the editor
Awhina Tamarapa (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Pikiao) holds a Bachelor of Māori Laws and Philosophy from Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Otaki, and a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University, Wellington, where she majored in Anthropology. She has worked in museums for more than 10 years, including as concept developer and collection manager at Te Papa.
Publication: August 2019
Pages: 224
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 978-0-9951136-3-3
RRP: $75
Buy Whatu Kākahu
Te Hei Tiki: An Enduring Treasure in a Cultural Continuum
Of all Māori personal adornments, the human figure pendants known as hei tiki are the most famous, highly prized and culturally iconic. This book celebrates the long history of hei tiki and the enduring cultural potency of these taonga.