A Maori cloak has been made for the Defence Force, and will be worn by high achieving military personnel. The cloak is called Nga Tapuwae and honours battles where New Zealanders have fought, those who have died and those who have returned home.
Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating said the idea came from the grassroots of the military. "The organisation has said we need something like this that we can be proud of, for junior members and any member of the defence force to wear."
Warrant Officer Class One Robert Jobe took about a year to make it. He said a trip to Gallipoli helped form the concept for the cloak."It just added to everything. It added to the feeling of the cloak, it added to the wairua, the mauri of it."
The cloak will be worn on special occasions.