Ata Te Kanawa, whose late mother, Diggeress Te Kanawa, was a renowned New Zealand weaver, claimed the cloak presented to Australian Brad Kennedy was ‘‘absolutely not’’ an authentic korowai.
NZ Golf came under fire last year when it presented winner and fellow Australian Zach Murray with what it claimed was a korowai, but labelled by one weaver as a ‘‘piece of faux fur’’.
The sports body then promised to review ‘‘all aspects of the presentation ceremony pertaining to Maori culture’’ for this year’s tournament, including consultation with ‘‘appropriate iwi leaders and kaumatua’’.
It also said before last week’s tournament it had formed an agreement with the New Zealand Maori Golf Association to present the winner with an ‘‘authentic korowai’’.
Ms Te Kanawa, of Wellington, said based on the photograph she had seen it appeared to be ‘‘like a feathered version of Superman’s cape’’.
‘‘Even someone that doesn’t know what an authentic one is can clearly see the fabric lining.
‘‘We know it’s sewn and, unless you know of a native bird that has rocket-red feathers ... they look pretty artificial to me.’’
Her issue was the use of the traditional name for what was a cape or cloak.
A korowai was handwoven from flax fibre and adorned with tassels and sometimes feathers, although they were not meant to be sewn on.
Ms Te Kanawa, who founded an indigenous Maori fashion apparel board, said it was disappointing given she had heard a news report that NZ Golf was ‘‘addressing the learnings of last year’’.
‘‘I even dropped an email to them and said, ‘good on you, we’re getting on top of this’.’’
NZ Golf claimed it consulted Maori, but she said ‘‘that consultation and direction has clearly been wrong’’.
‘‘They might be genuinely in a position where they believe the person that they were consulting with gave them good advice. It’s a little bit sad.’’
NZ Golf chief executive Dean Murphy said the organisation ‘‘doesn’t have any comment to make’’.
However, tournament director Michael Glading said he was aware NZ Golf went to ‘‘enormous lengths to follow correct protocols’’.
