Hokimate Harwood

Hokimate’s present interests centre around feather and hair identification in Te Papa’s Māori, Pacific and History collections. Archival and photographic collection research of the taonga Māori records has recently traced the movements and provenance of some of the Museum’s taonga and established connections with iwi Māori. Past research has included work on kererū (native pigeon) diet and ecology.
Iwi affiliation: Ngāpuhi

He huia tangata tahi – there is but one person synonymous with the huia, the chief

Ngā rau kura – Precious feathers In 2007 I identified the birds in Te Papa’s Māori cloaks using microscopic analyses of feather down and museum bird skin comparisons. My findings have provided a deeper knowledge of the museum’s natural history and Māori collections but also an appreciation and understanding ofRead more

By: Hokimate Harwood

On: 4 Jun 2015

In: Māori, Science

M is for mystery: M initial in the waistband of Te Papa’s piupiu Māori

My role at Te Papa is to identify feathers and hair in the ethnological collections, however on occasion I come across something interesting in my research including the following mystery. While identifying the feathers in the museum’s Māori textiles collection, I counted eight piupiu (skirt or waist garment) with the letter ‘M’Read more

By: Hokimate Harwood

On: 5 Dec 2012

In: Māori