Annie Dolly Anituhia MacDonald Neame (1916 - 1995)

Annie (Dolly) Anituhia MacDonald Neame (1916– 1995)

"One day while sitting alone a thought came to me - I'd just love to make a feather cloak. Well, after talking to my tupuna that have passed on I'd got just that boost to get to and make that cloak, It would be so special.

Anituhia by H.C. Cheesman. Image supplied by Marlborough Museum and Archives

When I started to make it I was OK but I had some sickness, so I just did it whenever I could. However after starting that in late 1984 I left it for quite some time, then in 1985 I did not touch it, so came 1987. I just got to and finished it. Had it blessed and a Karikia done by (Len) Renata NukuNuku, an elder of the Ngati Porou tribe of the Hauiti Marae, Gisborne. That made me very happy indeed.

I had been told that the pattern I wove in the top band was gifted to me by my Tupuna as a prediction of the future of New Zealand. That made me more than grateful to my Tupuna. I felt so grateful and proud.

Cloak woven by Dolly Neame. Photo supplied by the Marlborough Museum and Archives.

Poi Pois made by Dolly Neame. Marlborough Museum and Archives

My thanks to everyone who contributed the feathers - Grey duck from the Awatere, Paradise duck from Mr. Garry Bartlet, and the red feather from my brother Frank MacDonald of Waikawa. I thank all those kind people very much.
The piu piu I found very hard as I dyed every single piece separately & carefully. The top piece is taniko & plaited. It is of flax from Chaytors (the diversion off the Wairau River into the Sea, done to divert flood waters). When flax is dry it just automatically rolls and the inside of the flax becomes the outside."

The pois are of Raupo blades and the handles are flax fibre plaited.

Dolly Neame, 1989

Story by: Marlborough Museum and Archives

Marlborough Museum And Archives