Story: Starfish, sea urchins and other echinoderms

Eating kina

Here, kina roe is being scooped out with knives and spoons. The traditional method is to crack open the kina shell with a rock and take out the roe by hand.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: 1/4-054105; F

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.

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Starfish, sea urchins and other echinoderms – Sea urchins, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5208/eating-kina (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

jerome tamati
05 April 2011

they are a favourite food for maori natives.eaten best when the roe are creamy white dripping out of the kina shell when opened.enjoyed straight from the sea beautiful with fresh white bread.i love my kina fresh on pieces of well cooked toats.immmm yummmy much.lol