For iwi in the Taiuru rohe, a pua tāwhiwhi (also known as a pewa) is a snare consisting of an upright with a perch lashed to it horizontally and a bracing strut. During Puanga, pua tāwhiwhi were used to catch kererū attracted to the berries of the miro tree. The snare was disguised with moss or lichen. A lure of ripe berries or nectar-filled flowers was tied to the end of the perch. When the bird came to sample it, the trap was jerked, ensnaring its feet.
Using this item
Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Elsdon Best, Forest lore of the Maori. Wellington: Dominion Museum, 1942, fig. 6
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