in souvenir shops?
The sight of a traditional Māori kākahu (cloak) being sold in a tourist souvenir shop “chafes a bit”, one university professor says.
Two styles of kākahu, made out of feathers, were on display in the shop window of Christchurch’s At the Square this week, and sell for $400 each.
The owner of the central Christchurch shop refused to answer questions about the traditional cloaks but said they were not purchased from iwi. A sales assistant in the shop said they were made in Rotorua.
Māori kākahu are often worn on special occasions, as a mantle of prestige and honour, and typically hold stories of history, whānau and whakapapa. Korowai are a type of kākahu that feature tassles.
Link to video and article: Is it appropriate to sell kākahu in souvenir shops? | Stuff.co.nz
