Story: Te hopu tuna – eeling

Patu tuna

Patu tuna

This patu tuna (eel killer) is made from whalebone. There were two types of patu tuna. One type was used to kill eels that had already been caught. The other type was used to strike them in shallow waters at night.

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

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How to cite this page:

Basil Keane, 'Te hopu tuna – eeling - Bobbing, feeling and striking', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13986/patu-tuna (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Basil Keane, published 24 Sep 2007