From New Zealand Society 17 September 2014
Pule-tasi or niqab? Like the diversity of our cultures, New Zealand’s dress code is changing all the time. These days you can wear your hijab to work without question, although Sikh’s still need to consider covering their Kirpan (sacred knife) to avoid police call-outs from the public. Lynda Chanwai-Earle decided to visit a Church, Mosque and a Sikh Temple to learn about our changing dress sense.
A sea of white - men on one side, women on the other. The Pacific Island Presbyterian Church, Porirua
Reverand Perema Leafi and Sunday school children
White hats and dress for communion Sunday
Men wearing white lava-lava
White and wide-brimmed hats for communion day at the Pacific Island Church, Porirua
Woven hat, Cook Island style, Pacific Island Church, Porirua
Hibiscus flower pattern common to Rarotonga
Hibiscus flower pattern on the pule-tasi dress, Rarotongan pattern
Caroline Moreiko (centre) models a classic pule-tasi, Pacific Island Church, Porirua
Caroline Moreriko, Matai Lio and Peta Tamati at the Pacific Island Church, Porirua
Matai Lio, Fanaea Olai Pa'ese and Peta Tamati wear the traditional lava-lava and pule-tasi.
The pule-tasi worn by a member of the church choir.
Some te vaivai or quilting - Pacific Island Church, Porirua
Sergeant Gurpreet Arora at the Manuwera Sikh temple - head-covering is part of protocol.
Listening to the community - Sergeant Gurpreet Arora at the Manuwera Sikh temple
A Sikh boy wears head- covering - children at the Sikh temple kindergarten
Women wear chunni or head-covering as they prepare langar
In Saudi dress for men, the Victoria University Saudi students club serve cardamom coffee.
Asma and her friend welcome at the entrance - Kilbirnie Mosque open day
Pashmina hijab worn by Hera, NZ Indian
Somalian hijab worn with flair
Niqab worn by Hafsa from Sri Lanka
The public try on different cultural dress at the open day
Explaining choice of nigab (full covering) to members of the public
Members of the public try on hijab
Public try on hijab at the open day
The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.