“Te Reo o te Kākahu”, ‘the voice or story of the cloak’ encompasses for the first time scientific research alongside Māori knowledge to explore the origins and evolution of Māori feather cloak making. The research acknowledges the layers of information contained within the terminologies, whakapapa (genealogy), and tikanga (customs) associated with cloak production, and more specifically the knowledge contained in the patterns and use of birds and feathers. It highlights the inherent connection between people and the birds within kākahu Māori that has not been fully told to date. This thesis focuses on recovering and recording iwi knowledge pertaining to how feather cloaks are made and used in Māori customs and traditions. Additionally, the research will create areas of new knowledge by utilising scientific techniques to verify materials in order to tell the full history of Māori feather cloaks from an integrated scientific and Māori perspective. In order to establish an accurate knowledge base of Māori feather cloaks the following themes were highlighted as relevant discussion points in the production and use of feather cloaks in Māori society over time. They are the language and classification of cloaks, the materials and techniques employed in cloak production, the spiritual concepts of cloaks (such as whakapapa and tikanga), and the cultural significance of the birds incorporated into kākahu Māori. The themes weave across the time periods in which Māori have been known to make and use cloaks in Aotearoa and help to measure the degree of change over time.