Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

A review of available information on barkcloth manufacture and use by Māori. Other native trees are discussed as possible sources of barkcloth, especially Hoheria spp. Specimens of barkcloth have only been found in Otago, a long way from the northern areas where records show that aute barkcloth was made or known. Fourteen Māori barkcloth beaters have been located in museum collections and are fully described. There are significant differences from archaic Polynesian beaters found at a site on Huahine.