Story: Kiore – Pacific rats

Tāwhiti makamaka (3rd of 3)

Tāwhiti makamaka

This portable trap is the tāwhiti makamaka, made of mānuka bark, aka pirita (supplejack) and muka (flax fibre). A kiore would chew through the cord to reach the bait. When the cord snapped, the bent stick would spring up and trap the rat in a loop inside the trap.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: ME023624

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Bradford Haami, 'Kiore – Pacific rats - Hunting and eating kiore', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/16125/tawhiti-makamaka (accessed 9 May 2024)

Story by Bradford Haami, published 24 Nov 2008