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Story: Te tāhere manu – bird catching

Decoy method

Image
Decoy method

This sketch showing the taki or decoy technique was made by Tāmati Ranapiri of Ngāti Raukawa. The bird at the bottom of the pole is a decoy. The fowler is hidden in the hut. At the top of the taki (pole) is the kākā that has been attracted by the decoy. Ranapiri noted that this method did not catch as many birds as the mutu snare.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Polynesian Society Collection

Reference: 80-115-12/6

by Tamati Ranapiri

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Te tāhere manu – bird catching – Attracting birds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/11996/decoy-method (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 2 March 2009.