Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Tapa cloth |
Title |
Tapa Cloth used to cover Norman Kirk's grave |
Description |
Tapa cloth presented to the Waimate Historical Society 18th November 1981. This cloth was used to cover Norman Kirk's grave for four days and four night. Norman Kirk was born in Waimate on 6th January, 1923 and died in Wellington 31st August 1974. He was Prime Minister from late 1972 and died in office. Norman Kirk is buried in the Waimate cemetery. The tapa cloth was presented to the Waimate Museum in 1981 by the Labour Party. In making the presentation to the Waimate Historical Society, David Lange (a Labour MP at the time) spoke of Norman Kirk as a Prime minister who had drawn together the Polynesian people living in New Zealand with Maori and Pakeha. The tapa cloth demonstrated the ties that the late Prime Minister had with the people of the Pacific Islands and was placed in front of the grave before the ceremony by Mr Jack Shaw, a Fijian and president of the Pacific Island branch of the Labour Party. It is traditional practice in the Pacific Islands on such occasions and was left to lie on the coffin for 4 days and nights. One of the officiating Ministers – Rev. TD Morrison said "It was typical of Mr Kirk’s humble greatness that he should choose such a quiet corner to be his last resting place near his parents and among those who have lived and died in this town." Norman lived in Waimate from his birth until the family moved to Christchurch in 1928. "Kirk’s love of the outdoors developed from regular visits to relatives in Waimate. Open spaces, he claimed, reduced him to ‘proper proportions’. Milking cows, rabbit and possum hunting, and fishing were part of his life in Waimate, and he developed a passion for swimming." (http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5k12/1) Norman Kirk’s father (also Norman Kirk) is also buried in the Waimate cemetery. He was born in Gore, spent most of his working life in Christchurch and returned to Waimate in 1955 where he died in 1968, aged 66. 1.88 x 1.25 |
Dimensions |
H-188 W-125 cm |
Height (cm) |
188.000 |
Width (cm) |
125.000 |
People |
Kirk, Norman |
Subjects |
Norman Kirk |
Search Terms |
Labour Party Norman Kirk Prime Minister Tapa cloth |
Catalogue Number |
2010-032-001 |