Men prepare pōhā (containers made from bull kelp) to hold tītī (muttonbirds), in 1910. The pōhā were put into flax baskets and surrounded with tōtara bark. Listen to Ngāi Tahu elder Bob Whaitiri talk about using pōhā with tītī.
Transcript
Of course, the kelp had to be collected long before they went on the island. And they had to make flax baskets and the kelp was treated in such a way that it in itself was more or less preserved until they got to the island and then it was softened until it became pliable and the treated bird would then be placed inside the kelp bag and the kelp bag itself would be tied until it was air tight and then it would be put inside of the flax basket and surrounded by tōtara bark to protect the kelp itself. And I have known muttonbirds preserved this way in the kelp bag to last at least three years and be as good in three years' time as the day that they were put in there.
Using this item
Reference: 43659
Image: Hocken Collections, University of Otago, S07-053c - E2918/10
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