Revealing the Histories of Māori Cloaks Using DNA

Māori cloaks, or kākahu, are taonga, a treasure as unique to New Zealand as the variety of materials and dyes used to create them. Cloak-making has a long history, and stunning examples exist in museums in New Zealand and around the world. Sadly, a lot of information about many of these kākahu has been lost, meaning that much about these national icons; their origins and individual histories are unknown.

Using a combination of traditional knowledge and DNA technology, Dr Leon Huynen from Massey University has been awarded a Marsden grant to unravel the whakapapa of Māori cloaks, and uncover lost secrets of Māori clothing technology. Dr Huynen will work with the support of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa, the NZ Māori weavers group.

The team will use non-destructive techniques to sample feathers, skins and plant fibres from ancient and historic cloaks and kete now housed in national and international museums. They will extract and study DNA from these samples, using them to identify the types of birds, plants and other animals used to make cloaks. The team will investigate how the components of these amazing artefacts has changed through time, and varied across the country as weavers favoured different materials. 

Dr Huynen’s team hope to use modern techniques to rediscover the preferences and choices made by Māori artisans. Were their design and material choices governed by what was available locally? Or did they trade feathers, skins and fibre? This project will also draw on the rapidly growing DNA database of New Zealand birds to match cloak materials to species, and to specific geographic populations.
Not only will this project help to further reconstruct the genetic history of New Zealand’s unique bird populations but, most significantly, it will contribute to the cultural value of important taonga by allowing their stories to be told once again.

Total Funding:    $763,139
Researchers:    Dr Leon Huynen, Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Massey University, Auckland.
Associates:    Dr Craig Millar, Auckland University
Ms Rangi Te Kanawa, Muka Limited
Professor Allan Baker, Massey University
Ms Sue Scheele, Landcare Research