According to the speakers, what function has tapa cloth played in the following

M: So now you need details about different countries.
W: Where would you start?
M: I think Samoa is the obvious place. It’s famous for its very fine cloth called siapo which is hand painted with representations of the ancestors. Still today, at the most profound events in lives, such as birth, funerals, weddings and the investiture of chiefs, some are with siapo ropes to add significance and meaning to the ceremony.
W: OK. Then I can talk about Tonga. It seems to me that the great innovation in Tonga has been developing a
simple coarse cloth, which is quick and easy to make. This is suitable for all sorts of everyday functions around the house, like bed covers, mosquito nets and curtains.
M: Good point. Now, what about Cook Islands tapa?
W: Well, the Sweallier is poor quality, so the breadfruit tree is often used. One type of thick cloth called Tikodo was wrapped around the poles and used to mark the entrances to places of worship, so it was highly regarded in the local culture.
M: You might mention Fiji as well, which is interesting, because tapa was actually used as a currency there. Fyians used to sail between the islands and exchange tapa for other commodities like canoes or pigs.
W: I know that in Tahiti, the tapa cloth is different because the patterns are in colour, which is considered more valuable than the usual brown patterns.
M: You are right about the Tahitians using coloured pigments, but they aren’t more valuable. The colours are only a decoration. People enjoy wearing bright robes especially for dancing and competitive games and do it just for fun.
W: Oh, I’ll make a note of it. Well, the last place I was going to mention was Tikopia. Even today it’s commonplace to see people wearing clothes made of tapa cloth. And many of the other islands, the tapa only come out on special occasions. But here you see people working in the gardens wearing tapa.
M:  Sound promising, Sandy. I’ll look forward to your assignment.