From:Mokau Museum
Name/TitleMāhē/Sinker
About this objectLarge round shape māhē with indents from muka/flax.
Māhē played a major role in net fishing.
The construction of nets was a tapu activity – certain rituals and restrictions had to be followed. Most nets were made of green flax, and they ranged in size from individual tītoko ika (hand nets) to very large kaharoa (seine nets). The base was weighed down with māhē (stone sinkers), and gourds or light woods were sometimes used as pōito (floats).
Object numberRA2019.259
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