This beautiful Black and Red Ngapuhi Korowai is a kahu huruhuru, a feather cloak. Many people still call them korowai though.
Made from real feathers, and machine stitched for longevity, the red and black Nga Puhi korowai is edged with woven taniko in red, black and white. The taniko design represents manaia and wairua. Te Manaia is a bird like figure that has supernatural powers and is a spiritual guardian. Te Manaia has the head of a bird, body of a man, and the tail of a fish, representing the balance between water, earth and sky. Maori regard Te Manaia as the unseen light surrounding each of us. You can liken it to a bird sitting on your shoulder as a guardian guiding your spirit.
The rest of the taniko is in a poutama (stairway to heaven) design. The poutama design symbolises a climb made by Tanenui-a-rangi, who climbed to the heavens to receive 3 baskets of knowledge and 2 stones or whatukura (of knowledge and mana) from the supreme being, Io. The series of steps denote the steps of progress and advancement through education. From this will emerge rangatira (chiefs and leaders of the future). In the middle of the poutama design is a V meeting with another V. That represents our ancestral meeting house, the Wharenui. It symbolises the gathering and bringing together of all whanau, iwi, and cultures.
Feathers used are black and red, with a solid row of black feathers at the top. The black feathers shimmer with the blue/green shades of the New Zealand Tui bird. The inside of the korowai is lined with black fabric.
This beautiful feather cloak is made by a lovely Maori lady of Ngati Porou descent. She blesses each korowai with a karakia.
Dimensions (approx):
Width 43' (110cm)
Length 43' (110cm)
Wonderful to wear at a wedding, special function, 21st, graduation, or to present as a corporate gift, or to keep as a unique and beautiful piece of Maori art.
To maintain the mana of this beautiful piece of Maori art, please wear the korowai around the shoulders and not under the armpit.
SPECIAL NOTE RE SHIPPING : If you are having this shipped internationally, please select Economy Courier or Express Courier only. The item is too valuable to ship by Airmail, which does not carry sufficient insurance.
Note re availability: if we have just gone out of stock of this item, it will be 2-3 weeks before we have more. It pays to email us first to check on availability if your timeline is tight.
Purchase the korowai on its own, or in a deluxe black gift box (with clear lid). Perfect for special presentations. (Please note that the gift box photo is a representative one, showing a different korowai, but you will receive the black and red korowai described above).
Shipped worldwide from New Zealand.
