Breathing new life into kākahu

The He Kākahu Rerehua exhibition has been described as a milestone for Tairawhiti Museum. It has been the work of, from left, collections manager Julia Hardie, kaitaunaki kaitieki Māori Kataraina Hoko, kaitieki Māori Taharakau Stewart and Maia Keane, who was absent. It has been a five-year project and Taharakau acknowledged the work of former collections manager Madeleine Jones and kaitieki Maori Tapunga Nepe in bringing the project to fruition. Picture by Paul Rickard

Restoring the life of kākahu (Māori garments) cared for by Tairāwhiti Museum is a part of the new exhibition opening on Sunday.

Tairāwhiti Museum kaitieiki Māori have organised an exhibition called He Kākahu Rerehua The Uplifting Wind, that will celebrate the 61 different kākahu at the museum.

However, it’s not a standard exhibition with pieces hung on walls to be admired, but rather an ongoing kaupapa that will see the kākahu examined, photographed and stored in new custom-made storage units to keep the Kākahu in great condition for years to come.

The kākahu at the museum are some of the most significant items in the collection, but also at the highest risk due to their size and fragility.

The kaitieki Māori team is made up of Taharakau Stewart, Kataraina Hoko and Maia Keane.  Collections manager Julie Hardie and exhibitions officer Jonty Hall are also playing a key role in delivering this project.

The exhibition is about restoring the life back into Māori garments by rehousing them, undertaking new research, and taking new photographs for the public to access but as Taharakau said, “The most important thing is the reconnection of kākahu back to their whānau.”

This is a unique project that brings the work of the museum team behind the scenes into the public eye, and Taharakau is excited to share the narratives around the kākahu, such as how they were worn, when they were worn, and who would wear them.

“It’s been really eye-opening for all of us,” he said.

He Kākahu Rerehua will take place in the Jack C Richards Gallery and the team will be in the gallery every week from Monday to Wednesday to work with the kākahu and the gallery will be open to the public for the remainder of the week.

Each kākahu will have the chance to be talked over, admired and adored, have their condition checked and then put back into storage, Julia Hardie said.

They will all be stored flat on an acid-free material in custom-made storage units made by Gisborne Engineering.

There is a photography table in the gallery and each kākahu will be photographed by museum photographer Dudley Meadows to get high resolution images that will be added to the museum’s online collection catalogue for the public to access.

Julia said being able to make use of gallery space as they have with this kaupapa was an incredible utilisation of space. “It’s fantastic to have this opportunity.”

The combined length of the kākahu is the size of an Olympic swimming pool and twice the width, she said.

The earliest piece is circa 1800s and the collection spreads across time, with different kākahu created in the 19th and 20th century included, which shows the changes in materials and designs.

The museum has been working toward this project for five years with previous team members, collections manager Madeleine Jones and kaitieki Māori Tapunga Nepe, playing a key role, Taharakau said. Funding support from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage through the Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund has also been critical for delivery of this project.

“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini ke, Whether it’s indirectly or directly, the whole staff in some way have been involved with this. They all are learning something from this experience,” he said.

Kataraina said they were creating a unique space at the museum.

She said bringing things from storage out to the public and then holding wānanga to reconnect with the whānau of different kākahu is a learning experience.

“We are working to create this space, which has no template. Each day we learn something new. I have found we all have a specialty  and we complement one another.

“We are learning and growing from any challenges, not just as individuals but as a team,”

she said.

The exhibition will be open for about six months. Throughout this time there will be regular wānanga every two weeks in which weavers, researchers and other experts will be invited to bring their insight and the community are welcome to take part in these events.

The team invites everyone to come to the opening on Sunday at 2pm.

“It’s a wonderful milestone for Tairāwhiti Museum,” Taharakau said.

The whole team will be at the opening and able to answer  questions.

They want to thank all the whānau who support this mahi and allow them to bring their kākahu into this space.

■ He Kakahu Rerehu opens on Sunday, October 1, at 2 pm, Tairawhiti Museum, Stout Street.