Why did Maori wear feathers in their hair?
These could be worn singly, or the entire tail might be smoke-dried and worn in the hair. It is also recorded that huia tail feathers were used in ancient times to make a special kind of war headdress, the 12-feathered marereko.
What is a traditional Maori hairstyle?
Topknots. Oral traditions record a wide variety of high-status hairstyles identified by different names. Twisted or knotted on the head, they include tiki, pūtiki, tikitiki, tuki, koukou and rāhiri. Different kinds of topknots are mentioned in traditional stories.
Why is Maori head sacred?
Power of tapu In the past, tohunga (sacred men possessing spiritual powers) and others of high tapu would often be avoided as their tapu was so powerful that contact with them was dangerous for anyone of lower level. The head is the most sacred part of the body.
What do Huia feathers represent?
For Māori the huia was revered as a symbol of nobility, leadership and hierarchy. The white-tipped tail feathers were worn as head adornments to signify chiefs and people of great mana (authority and power).
Who would wear a Huia feather?
They were stored in intricately carved boxes called waka huia, which were hung from the ceilings of chiefs’ houses. Huia feathers were worn at funerals and used to decorate the heads of the deceased. The marereko, described by Edward Robert Tregear as an “ancient war-plume”, consisted of twelve huia feathers.
What do feathers represent in Maori?
The huia feather is a revered treasure for Māori and symbolises leadership and mana. The feathers from the tail of the huia were particularly prized and were worn in the hair or around the neck by both men and women. Feathers were often stored in intricately carved boxes known as wakahuia.
What does Nga Manu mean?
birds
What does Te Raukura mean?
Te Raukura means the feather or plume that was traditionally worn by people of rank and mana. People of rank and mana reflect leadership, hope, aspiration and the achievement of a common vision for all. Te Raukura also symbolises pride and inner strength.
What does the Kererū symbolism?
Kererū (wood pigeon) The legendary trickster Māui wanted to find out where his mother, Taranga, went during the day. Māui changed into a white kererū to follow her, still holding the skirt, which became the bird’s beautiful multicoloured plumage. The kererū was also a valued food source.
What does it mean if you see a kereru?
For Maori, kereru are a traditional source of food, but also have spiritual significance. Dying kuia or kaumatua have called for a final meal of kereru in the belief that it will help them on their journey to the afterlife.
Which bird name is a Maori?
Ruru (morepork) The ruru, New Zealand’s native owl, has large, staring eyes and a mournful cry, echoed by its name. Ruru provide a rich source of symbolism for Māori. Their haunting cry and watchful nature are linked with tapu (spiritual restriction), guardianship, forewarning, grief and awareness.
Which is the only bird that can fly backward?
Hummingbirds
Which bird is only found in New Zealand?
Tui. A common bird species in New Zealand, the tui is only found in New Zealand.
Do Kiwis have arms?
Kiwi don’t have much of a wingspan at all. But they do have wings – vestigial ones. It’s a bit like the way we humans have a tailbone but, unlike our very early hominid ancestors, we no longer have a tail. Kiwi are also the only birds in the world with external nostrils at the tip of their beak.