New Zealand is a country that has a full range of extremes in both its weather and landscape. Therefore, New Zealanders tend to have a wide array of clothing for various occasions at their disposal. Modern Western-style clothing is the style that dominates New Zealand. Typically, unless attending an event or a formal meeting, New Zealanders will wear casual clothing such as shorts or jeans coupled with a shirt. However, for business meetings or more formal events (such as a high-class dinner) men wear suits which are typically darker colored while women wear a dress or suit. Carrying a raincoat is standard in New Zealand due to the the year round rainfall and is a necessity for the clothing there. Also, in New Zealand swimwear is referred to as togs which similarly are non gender specific.
The Maori are the source of the only clothing that is truly traditional to New Zealand. The clothes that they make rely heavily on the use of plants and wildlife that are found on the islands. Maori clothing consists of many practical garments such as rain capes or their version of sandals. Clothing for the maori was also a way to distinguish prestige between individuals as well. For example, the chief might wear what is called a prestige cloak. These cloaks were made of kuri (a Polynesian dog) and were fully feathered to differentiate the higher status individuals. The Maori have a culture of respecting elders within a kind of hierarchal system and this is reflected in the wearing of prestige cloaks. Hairstyle as well as headdresses were also used as a way to show status as well as to indicate mourning.
Sources
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-clothing-and-adornment-kakahu-maori
http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/new_zealand.htm
http://www.fourcorners.co.nz/new-zealand/what-to-wear/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW4qptCre8M
The Maori are the source of the only clothing that is truly traditional to New Zealand. The clothes that they make rely heavily on the use of plants and wildlife that are found on the islands. Maori clothing consists of many practical garments such as rain capes or their version of sandals. Clothing for the maori was also a way to distinguish prestige between individuals as well. For example, the chief might wear what is called a prestige cloak. These cloaks were made of kuri (a Polynesian dog) and were fully feathered to differentiate the higher status individuals. The Maori have a culture of respecting elders within a kind of hierarchal system and this is reflected in the wearing of prestige cloaks. Hairstyle as well as headdresses were also used as a way to show status as well as to indicate mourning.
Sources
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-clothing-and-adornment-kakahu-maori
http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/new_zealand.htm
http://www.fourcorners.co.nz/new-zealand/what-to-wear/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW4qptCre8M