Story: Shrubs and small trees of the forest
Māhoe wood was used by Māori for fire-making. By rubbing a pointed stick of kaikōmako rapidly in a grooved piece of soft māhoe wood, they could heat the māhoe to ignition point. A fine fluff of dry moss, wood dust or beaten flax was placed in the groove and when that was alight, larger dry material such as raupō (shown bound up in a pile) was placed over the flame.
About this item
Auckland Art Gallery - Toi o Tamaki
Oil on canvas by Gottfried Lindauer
Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.