Restoring the power of black tapa with memories of the Tongan and English Queens

12/10/2025 26 min
Restoring the power of black tapa with memories of the Tongan and English Queens

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Episode Synopsis


In 1953 Queen Salote of Tonga visited England for Queen Elizabeth the Second's Coronation. At which, she is said to have won "the affection of the British people" by riding to the ceremony in the rain. It's a visit remembered in a large black tapa work or ngatu ta'uli - which is a royal Tongan specialty - by Otautahi Christchurch based artist Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka.