Prince Charles caused a bit of a modern day stir when, on a visit to New Zealand in 2005, he donned a cloak made from albatross feathers as he visited a Māori weaving exhibition, just three days after making a plea to save the same endangered bird! Weavers were quick to note the cloak was made from feathers humanely gathered from a nesting colony, along with weka and pūkeko roadkill!
Edward Tregear wrote in his 1904 book The Maori Race :
"Bird-skins (pohoi), dried into cylindrical shape over a rounded piece of wood, were worn fastened to the ears. The skin of the purple swamp-hen (pukeko: Porphyrio melanotus) soaked in titoki-berry-oil and scented with fragrant tarata gum was often tied to the ear or worn round the neck."
For trout fishermen, the blue body feathers are prime fly-tying feathers for classic night lures such as the Craig's Night-time, Taihape Tickler and Scotch Poacher.
Pop back to Te Pūkeko Gallery
Click here to see the spectacular panel of blue pūkeko feathers shown on the albatross cloak in the photo below:
Photo Source: AP
