This tukutuku panel is a contemporary example of Māori weaving from Aoteroa (New Zealand), made from colored reeds lashed to a backing to form a striking vertical chevron pattern.
Traditionally, tukutuku panels were crafted by Māori women and placed between the wooden posts and rafters to form decorative walls in ceremonial meeting houses, symbolizing tribal identity and spiritual power (mana).
Each panel is made by weaving dyed reeds or flax strips onto a wooden frame, with patterns that often represent important stories or values. The interplay of color and texture creates a sense of movement, making tukutuku panels both decorative and deeply meaningful within Māori culture.
This treasured piece has been in the Mauna Kea's collection since 1965, when Laurance Rockefeller developed the hotel, and was very recently restored.
