| Brief Description |
This manu aute, or kite, was made by Dean Flavell (Ngāti Māhuta) in 1999. It is in the shape of a bird; hence its title of manu (bird). The kite is made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree (aute), totara, kahikatea and paua shell, and is decorated with albatross feathers and modern fabric dye.
For Māori, kite flying was a pastime enjoyed by children and adults alike. Kites were also used as a means of divination. Although kite flying was a popular activity in the past, few kites have survived into modern times.
Many types of kites were constructed, the most popular being those made from aute and called manu aute. These are remembered in the whakatauki, or proverb:
"He manu aute a taea te whakahoro."
"A kite made of aute can be made to fly fast."
This manu aute is a contemporary art piece that has been constructed purely to give a visual perspective of what these kites may have looked like.
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