MANIAPOTO sister act - Drs Rangi and Kahu Te Kanawa with Te Rā at the Auckland War Memorial Museum this week.
Te Rā, the only customary Māori sail in existence, will be displayed in Auckland from Saturday, for six months.
Its owners, the British Museum, have preserved the taonga for more than a century, but only ever exhibited it once, according to Te Rohe Pōtae textiles conservator Rangi Te Kanawa and Pou Ārahi curator Māori Kahutoi Te Kanawa.
The Maniapoto sisters travelled to London this year to see the historic sail, with Rangi visiting in March for two weeks, preparing the sail to travel and helping the museum make decisions for its safe return home to Aotearoa.
Kahu, who had been in London only coincidentally to see the sail in June, flew down to Christchurch on October 28, to bring the sail to Auckland by road.
Today, it is at the War Memorial Museum awaiting display – and reported to be causing much excitement ahead of the launch.
In both instances, Te Rā travelled three quarters rolled, but with the most fragile part – the feathers on the top – being packed flat, Rangi said.
Following its display, the sail must go back to England.
Kahu said a key part of understanding this kaupapa was that Manatū Taonga, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, had a legally binding loan agreement with the British Museum – to return it at the end of 12 months.
“They needed a letter of comfort that allows for taonga such as this to be returned.
“Any taonga dating before 1975 must be registered with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and is not allowed to go out of the country under the Protective Objects Act.”
Whilst there has been interest for the return of Te Rā, the traditional knowledge has been replicated by Northland weavers, and Auckland War Memorial Museum will be displaying two sibling sails, one a full-size scale and the other a marquette.
Most importantly the mātauranga is retained now that these replicas have been completed, to be displayed alongside Te Rā.
Kahu said Te Rā had only ever been exhibited once, in 1998.
“I know that, because I was the first demonstrator, at the British Museum that year – at the Māori Exhibition.”
Rangi is thankful Te Rā has been preserved and is able to be exhibited.
“We must also remember
that it was acquired at a time, 200-plus years ago.
“It was kept in a museum space. If it had not been acquired, it may have had a different outcome.
“The fact of the matter is that it still remains with us today. Some might say that it is not in the right hands and should be with those that it is associated with, or connected culturally to.”
She considers it a huge honour to be involved.
“It reflects a period of time where our ancestors navigated the largest mass of water on the planet without a compass or anything like that.
“I was seconded to go the British Museum to work alongside conservation staff to ensure the safety of Te Rā and prepare it to be on display.”
She said the original proposal had been to display it upright – to simulate it being captured by the wind. However, after an assessment alongside the British Museum conservators, this did not prove possible due to the condition of Te Rā, and the decision was made that it be displayed supported and flat.
“It does mean that only one side will be seen to the museum visitor, the underside won’t be seen.”
Conservation staff have made exceptions, showing both sides to weaving enthusiasts at Christchurch and Auckland.
All three institutions: the British Museum, AWWM and Christchurch City Art Gallery, supported the decision for flat display on a slight angle of 20 degrees.
Visitors will be able to see the muka chord woven in loops down the sail on both sides – which would have been threaded with a pole to angle the sail
