Pōhā are traditional Māori bags made from southern bull kelp, which are used to carry and store food and fresh water, to propagate live shellfish, and to make clothing and equipment for sports.[1][2] Pōhā are especially associated with Ngāi Tahu, who have legally recognised rights for harvesting source species of kelp.[1]
A pōhā covered with tōtara bark and inserted into a flax basket.
Blades from southern bull kelp (rimurapa in Māori)[1][2][3] species such as Durvillaea antarctica and D. poha (named after the pōhā)[4][5] were used to construct the bags.[1] The kelp blades have a 'honeycomb' structure,[6][7] which allows them to be split open, hollowed out (pōhā hau) and inflated into containers.[1][2] Inflated blades are hung out to dry and then deflated and rolled up for transport.[1][2]Tōtara bark can be used to cover and protect the bags.[8]
Usesedit
Transportedit
Pōhā are used to transport food, fresh water, to enclose food within an oven, and to transport and propagate live seafood such as shellfish (including toheroa),[4]sea stars and pāua in a process referred to as whakawhiti kaimoana.[2][4] Pōhā were often used to carry and store muttonbird (tītī) chicks.[1][2] Pōhā form an airtight seal and food can be safely stored inside them for up to two or three years.[2]
Members of Ngāi Tahu used inflated pōhā to protect their bodies (like a wetsuit) while foraging for seafood, and stories by iwi indicate that pōhā were used for surfing in a sport called kauai or kaukau.[2]
^"rimurapa". māoridictionary.co.nz. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
^ abc"Maori shellfish project wins scholarship". SunLive. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
^Fraser, Ceridwen I.; Spencer, Hamish G.; Waters, Jonathan M. (2012). "Durvillaea poha sp. nov. (Fucales, Phaeophyceae): a buoyant southern bull-kelp species endemic to New Zealand". Phycologia. 51 (2): 151–156. doi:10.2216/11-47.1.
^W. A., Nelson (2013). New Zealand seaweeds : an illustrated guide. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 66. ISBN9780987668813. OCLC 841897290.
^Maggy Wassilieff. Seaweed - Bull kelp’s honeycombed structure, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Ministry of Culture and Heritage. Updated 2 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
A Seaweed Pantry - Tales from Te Papa episode 100, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (YouTube video)
Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Story: Te Māori i te ohanga – Māori in the economy: Pōhā containers
Māoritube Pōhā (Bull Kelp Bags) – Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai
Pōhā - Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai (direct link to video on YouTube)
April 12, 2024
pōhā, traditional, māori, bags, made, from, southern, bull, kelp, which, used, carry, store, food, fresh, water, propagate, live, shellfish, make, clothing, equipment, sports, especially, associated, with, ngāi, tahu, have, legally, recognised, rights, harvest. Pōha are traditional Maori bags made from southern bull kelp which are used to carry and store food and fresh water to propagate live shellfish and to make clothing and equipment for sports 1 2 Pōha are especially associated with Ngai Tahu who have legally recognised rights for harvesting source species of kelp 1 A pōha covered with tōtara bark and inserted into a flax basket Contents 1 Construction 2 Uses 2 1 Transport 2 2 Clothing and sport 3 References 4 External linksConstruction editBlades from southern bull kelp rimurapa in Maori 1 2 3 species such as Durvillaea antarctica and D poha named after the pōha 4 5 were used to construct the bags 1 The kelp blades have a honeycomb structure 6 7 which allows them to be split open hollowed out pōha hau and inflated into containers 1 2 Inflated blades are hung out to dry and then deflated and rolled up for transport 1 2 Tōtara bark can be used to cover and protect the bags 8 Uses editTransport edit Pōha are used to transport food fresh water to enclose food within an oven and to transport and propagate live seafood such as shellfish including toheroa 4 sea stars and paua in a process referred to as whakawhiti kaimoana 2 4 Pōha were often used to carry and store muttonbird titi chicks 1 2 Pōha form an airtight seal and food can be safely stored inside them for up to two or three years 2 Clothing and sport edit Main article Surfing in New Zealand Members of Ngai Tahu used inflated pōha to protect their bodies like a wetsuit while foraging for seafood and stories by iwi indicate that pōha were used for surfing in a sport called kauai or kaukau 2 References edit a b c d e f g Page 4 Traditional use of seaweeds Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 12 June 2006 Retrieved 19 November 2019 a b c d e f g h Traditional Maori food gathering Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Retrieved 21 November 2019 rimurapa maoridictionary co nz Retrieved 21 November 2019 a b c Maori shellfish project wins scholarship SunLive 13 May 2018 Retrieved 26 November 2019 Fraser Ceridwen I Spencer Hamish G Waters Jonathan M 2012 Durvillaea poha sp nov Fucales Phaeophyceae a buoyant southern bull kelp species endemic to New Zealand Phycologia 51 2 151 156 doi 10 2216 11 47 1 W A Nelson 2013 New Zealand seaweeds an illustrated guide Wellington New Zealand Te Papa Press p 66 ISBN 9780987668813 OCLC 841897290 Maggy Wassilieff Seaweed Bull kelp s honeycombed structure Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand Ministry of Culture and Heritage Updated 2 March 2009 Retrieved 9 March 2010 Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua Maori Plant Use Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research Retrieved 21 November 2019 External links editA Seaweed Pantry Tales from Te Papa episode 100 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa YouTube video Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Story Te Maori i te ohanga Maori in the economy Pōha containers Maoritube Pōha Bull Kelp Bags Ngai Tahu Mahinga Kai Pōha Ngai Tahu Mahinga Kai direct link to video on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pōha amp oldid 1055809103, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
