Maori Cloak. Hamilton. Waikato. New Zealand.
S 37° 48.140 E 175° 18.340
60H E 350838 N 5814764
A blanket of 12,000 quartz pebbles known as Te Kahu o Papatuanuku has been woven together to resemble a Maori cloak. The sculpture guards the entrance to Hamilton Gardens.
Waymark Code: WM62Q9
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 03/22/2009
Views: 10
The huge new sculpture at the entrance to Hamilton Gardens was created by two internationally renowned artists, sculptor Chris Booth who is based in Kerikeri, and Diggeress Te Kanawa who seldom goes far from her Te Kuiti home. Chris Booth has undertaken major commissions in Holland, Australia, USA, Italy and Spain, and Diggeress Te Kanawa has become renowned for her work preserving traditional Maori weaving techniques and patterns. Their design proposal was chosen in a competition to which top New Zealand artists had been invited to submit designs.
The requirement for a massive sculpture has indeed been met with dimensions of 400cm x 3000cm x 180cm. It comprises a broken wall of Hinuera stone columns over which hangs ‘a blanket’ of pebbles that have been woven together to resemble a Maori cloak. The blanket of pebbles is known as ‘kakahu’ or ‘earth blanket.
12,000 quartz pebbles from Southland and 1000 greywacke pebbles from Kaiaua form the kakahu which is titled ‘'TE KAHU O PAPATUANUKU'. Three ancient patterns were translated into stone from a traditional korowai (cloak) woven by Diggeress Te Kanawa in 2001. They are NIHONIHO, TE KARU O TE WHENUA and TOORAKARAKA.
The title for the complete sculpture, 'Nga Uri o Hinetuparimaunga', was given at the official handover ceremony on 5th April 2005 by Haare puke and John Haunui, kaumatua of Ngati Wairere.
Title: Nga Uri o Hinetuparimaunga
Artist: Chris Booth, sculptor and Diggeress Te Kanawa, Maori weaver.
Placement Date: 3rd April 2005
Website: [Web Link]
Type of Object: Maori cloak or blanket
Location: Hamilton Gardens entrance.
Material: Stones and pebbles, wired together.
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