Kōrero: Seaweed

The Moriori people of the Chatham Islands constructed canoes from korari (the flower stalks of flax) and bull kelp. Bull kelp fronds were inflated with air and placed in the bottom and sides of the canoe to keep it buoyant. Although water passed through the flax stalks and the canoes became partially waterlogged, they were very stable and could travel distances of 50 kilometres in rough seas. Large canoes could carry up to 60 people.