Tū Mai Rā

Tū Mai Rā  | Medina Koni

“Let the sun shine on me while I am standing.” This extraordinary Tū Mai Ra is a deeply symbolic garment designed to capture and radiate the sun’s warmth. 

The Kahu Kuta is a specific type of traditional Māori kākahu (cloak) woven from kuta (water sedge), historically prized by weavers of Te Tai Tokerau for its unique ability to keep the wearer dry in the rain and cool in the heat, reflecting the concept of resilience.

The structure of the cloak visually expresses (the) Medina’s whakapapa (genealogy) and personal history: each row of hukahuka (tassels) showcases a different golden hue,
gathered from various times and places. It is reversible and able to be worn showcasing the front or back of this beautiful piece.

The deepest yellow remnants come from Te Tawhito, her very first Kahu Kuta of this style. The fine white Muka (flax fibre) row is woven from the remnants of Te Hono, a cloak created by Medina and her cousins for their marae, Te Piiti. The golden Pīngao row was gifted by whānau (family).

This piece transforms natural resources into a living narrative, proving that even with all its materials laid out, the true foundation, or ‘papa’ of this work, is WHĀNAU.

A stunning collectors piece.

Dimensions:

Width - 1200mm x Length - 580mm