Summer school gives opportunity to study Maori fibre work at close hand

Abstract

The University of Canterbury's close relationship with Canterbury Museum provided summer school students with a unique opportunity to examine fragile Maori fibre artefacts. About 15 students taking Nga Mahi-a-Ringa: Traditional Fibre Work (Maori 114) spent a week at the museum recently, working with Curator of Anthropology Roger Fyfe. They studied the design of artefacts such as finely twisted ropes and cords, intricately woven belts, kits, carrying straps and complex eel traps.