Skip to main content

Story: Te tāhere manu – bird catching

Pōhā (kelp)

Image
Pōhā

Pōhā were containers used to preserve birds in their own fat. This one consists of a kelp bag wrapped in tōtara bark inside a flax basket. Pōhā used to preserve tītī (muttonbirds) were known as pōhā tītī.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: MA_I.004217

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

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Te tāhere manu – bird catching – Seasons, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11992/poha-kelp (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 2 March 2009.