Raranga fragments from Roxburgh Gorge

Raranga (weaving) fragments retrieved during an archaeological investigation over three years ago and held in temporary custodianship by the Otago Museum, embarked on a new leg of their journey when they were recently transferred to another temporary home at the University of Otago.

While at the university, the raranga will be analysed under the care and attention of representatives from Ōtākou Rūnaka (Rachel Wesley), Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki (Phyllis Smith) and Otago University textiles specialist, Catherine Smith.  They are all looking forward to answering questions about the age and type of fibre finely woven into a raranga piece found in a remote cave in the Roxburgh Gorge.

An application for joint ownership of the raranga is expected to be heard by the Māori Land Court in November.  The analysis is expected to help the rūnaka determine how best to care for and conserve their taonga.

Southern Region Pouarahi Huia Pacey facilitated the transfer at the request of Kāi Tahu ki Otago and representatives from Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou.

Raranga fragment from Roxburgh Gorge.

Raranga fragment from Roxburgh Gorge.

Roxburgh Gorge raranga fragments

Rachel Wesley recently attended the transfer of the Roxburgh Gorge raranga fragments from the Otago Museum to the University of Otago Textiles Department, on behalf of the rūnanga.

The raranga fragments were discovered in the Roxburgh Gorge area in 2011, and have been looked after by the museum, while a process was determined for gaining more information about the plant material used and the age of the fragments.

The transfer was also attended by Phyllis Smith from Puketeraki, Chris Rosenbrock and Tania Richardson of KTKO Ltd, Huia Pacey from Heritage New Zealand, and representatives from the Otago Museum.

While in the Textile Department, they will be under the care of Dr. Catherine Smith, who has expertise in the analysis and conservation of Māori textiles.

From left, Dr Catherine Smith, Rachel Wesley, Phyllis Smith, mokopuna of Phyllis, Tania Richardson, Chris Rosenbrock. Photo by Huia Pacey.

From left, Dr Catherine Smith, Rachel Wesley, Phyllis Smith, mokopuna of Phyllis, Tania Richardson, Chris Rosenbrock. Photo by Huia Pacey.