Maori cloak displayed

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 9

Maori cloak displayed

PA Auckland A historic Maori cloak, which was worn by a chief when Captain Cook rediscovered New Zealand in 1769, has been worn by a descendant of the chief at recent ceremonies in Sweden. The cloak was taken to Sweden by the Minister of Tourism, Mr Talbot, for the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Swedish-born explorernaturalist, Daniel Solander. Solander was considered the most able botanist in England at the time when he joined Cook and Joseph Banks on the South Pacific

voyage in which New Zealand was rediscovered.

The cloak was worn by the Maori chief, Kahungunu, when Cook visited Hawke’s Bay and was probably seen by Solander. The family of Mrs Mary Ransfield, of Auckland, a direct descendant of Kahungunu, ceremonially received the return of the cloak from Mr Talbot at Auckland Airport yesterday.

People of the botanist’s birthplace, Pitea, heard of the cloak through a daughter of Mrs Ransfield’s, Mrs Erina Rhose, who is married to a Swede and is living in Sweden.

The Swedish Minister of Communications, Mr Bostron, who lives in Pitea, invited Mr Talbot to come to the celebrations and bring the cloak with him.

The cloak was received and worn by Mrs Rhose. On his return to New Zealand yesterday Mr Talbot said that people in Pitea became very emotional over the ceremony and the dignified way Mrs Rhose represented Maoridom. He said Pitea, which has a population of 15,000, recognised its connection with New Zealand and wanted to create more permanent links.