Pōhā
Pōhāare traditionalMāoribags made fromsouthern bull kelp,which are used to carry and store food and fresh water, to propagate liveshellfish,and to make clothing and equipment for sports.[1][2]Pōhā are especially associated withNgāi Tahu,who have legally recognised rights for harvesting source species of kelp.[1]
Construction
[edit]Blades from southern bull kelp (rimurapainMāori)[1][2][3]species such asDurvillaea antarcticaandD. poha(named after the pōhā)[4][5]were used to construct the bags.[1]The kelp blades have a 'honeycomb' structure,[6][7]which allows them to be split open, hollowed out (pōhā hau) and inflated into containers.[1][2]Inflated blades are hung out to dry and then deflated and rolled up for transport.[1][2]Tōtarabark can be used to cover and protect the bags.[8]
Uses
[edit]Transport
[edit]Pōhā are used to transport food, fresh water, to enclose food within an oven, and to transport and propagate live seafood such asshellfish(includingtoheroa),[4]sea starsandpāuain a process referred to aswhakawhiti kaimoana.[2][4]Pōhā were often used to carry and storemuttonbird(tītī) chicks.[1][2]Pōhā form an airtight seal and food can be safely stored inside them for up to two or three years.[2]
Clothing and sport
[edit]Members ofNgāi Tahuused inflated pōhā to protect their bodies (like a wetsuit) while foraging for seafood, and stories byiwiindicate that pōhā were used forsurfingin a sport calledkauaiorkaukau.[2]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefg"Page 4. Traditional use of seaweeds".Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.12 June 2006.Retrieved19 November2019.
- ^abcdefgh"Traditional Māori food gathering".Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.Retrieved21 November2019.
- ^"rimurapa".māoridictionary.co.nz.Retrieved21 November2019.
- ^abc"Maori shellfish project wins scholarship".SunLive.13 May 2018.Retrieved26 November2019.
- ^Fraser, Ceridwen I.; Spencer, Hamish G.; Waters, Jonathan M. (2012). "Durvillaea pohasp. nov. (Fucales, Phaeophyceae): a buoyant southern bull-kelp species endemic to New Zealand ".Phycologia.51(2): 151–156.doi:10.2216/11-47.1.
- ^W. A., Nelson(2013).New Zealand seaweeds: an illustrated guide.Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 66.ISBN9780987668813.OCLC841897290.
- ^Maggy Wassilieff.Seaweed - Bull kelp’s honeycombed structure,Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand,Ministry of Culture and Heritage. Updated 2 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^"Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua: Māori Plant Use".Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.Retrieved21 November2019.
External links
[edit]- A Seaweed Pantry - Tales from Te Papa episode 100, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (YouTube video)
- Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Story: Te Māori i te ohanga – Māori in the economy: Pōhā containers
- Māoritube Pōhā (Bull Kelp Bags) – Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai
- Pōhā - Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai (direct link to video on YouTube)