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Pa kahawai (trolling lure); Unknown; 1800-1850; ME011848

Pa kahawai (trolling lure), Unknown, 1800-1850, ME011848
FromMuseum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Name/Title
Pa kahawai (trolling lure)
About this object
Pā kahawai are trolling lures designed to attract and hook large surface-feeding fish, such as kahawai (sea trout: Arripis trutta). Adapted from Polynesian trolling lures, pā kahawai are composite lures typically constructed using a ground and shaped pāua (large New Zealand abalone with blue-green inner shell) shell lure set in a wooden shank with a bone barb fixed at the base and bound tightly with muka (flax fibre) cord.

An unusual example

This pā kahawai is unusual because it has been made from the finest materials available. The shank is whale bone, and the pāua shell inlay has been carefully selected and fitted to it. The three-point pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) barb is expertly fashioned, and the ends of the hook are tightly bound by three-ply kiekie (climber: Freycinetia baueriana) fibre cord dyed in natural plant extracts.

A ceremonial purpose

The elaborate crafting suggests the lure was designed for a purpose beyond its functional capability. It possibly played a ceremonial role in pre-fishing rituals.

See more at Te Papa's Collections Online: http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=10842
Maker
Unknown
Maker Role
carver
Date Made
1800-1850
Place Made
New Zealand
Medium and Materials
pounamu, ivory, paua shell, Kiekie
Measurements
153 x 53 x 17mm
Object Type
lure
Object number
ME011848

Tags

fishing
paua
whale bone


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Results from DigitalNZ

The pa kahawai is a composite (two piece) trolling lure. The trolling lure is a Polynesian fishing technique that was brought to New Zealand by Maori and later adpated using available materials and targeting local species, the kahawai (sea salmon). The pa kahawai is typically constructed with a wooden shank, to which is firmly set and bound a shaped lure inset, made from paua shell (abalone), and a bone barb. This particular example consists of a worked piece of paua shell shank, shaped, polished, and decorated with a series of fine notches, with a shell barb, and tightly bound with muka fibre.
Pa Kahawai (trolling lure)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pa Kahawai (trolling lure)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pa Kahawai (trolling lure)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pa Kahawai (trolling lure)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pa kahawai are trolling lures designed to attract and hook large surface-feeding fish, such as kahawai (sea trout: Arripis trutta). Adapted from Polynesian trolling lures, pa kahawai are composite lures typically constructed using a ground and shaped paua (large New Zealand abalone with blue-green inner shell) shell lure set in a wooden shank with a bone barb fixed at the base and bound tightly with muka (flax fibre) cord. An unusual example This pa kahawai is unusual because it has been made from the finest materials available. The shank is whale bone, and the paua shell inlay has been carefully selected and fitted to it. The three-point pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) barb is expertly fashioned, and the ends of the hook are tightly bound by three-ply kiekie (climber: Freycinetia baueriana) fibre cord dyed in natural plant extracts. A ceremonial purpose The elaborate crafting suggests the lure was designed for a purpose beyond its functional capability. It possibly played a ceremonial role in pre-fishing rituals.
Decorative Pa Kahawai (trolling lure)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
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