Story: Te hopu tuna – eeling

Eels at Wairewa

These eels have been hung out to dry at Wairewa (Lake Forsyth). Wairewa was an important source of eels for South Island Māori. Eels were caught in hīnaki (eel pots), or by using a bob made of noke waiū (big white worms), split flax and rushes (wīwī).

Listen to Riki Ellison from the Ngāi Tahu tribe talk about eeling.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Tourist and Publicity Department Collection
Reference: 1/2-040042; F
Photograph by K. V. Bigwood

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero (Te Puna Wai Korero/Reference number DAT 876)

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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/speech/13984/eels-at-wairewa (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Basil Keane, published 24 Sep 2007