Te nuota

Te nuota. Human hair girdle. Te nuota are usually reserved for use by male members of a family. They are worn by men at Te Ruoia dances but are also used by men as girdles for tying mats around the body. Te nuota are made from plaited strands of female hair. Women plait long cords of their own hair (which at times is cut for this purpose), or from an old family store of female hair. This particular nuota is made from four three-ply cords of tightly plaited hair that been laid together and tied at both ends. This length of hair has then been looped or doubled back on itself and twisted slightly to form a thick band. The nuota is reddish brown in colour and glossy. Unlike some of the other nuota in the collection, this one does not show signs of wear. The plaited cords have remained intact with very few and any strands of hair exposed.