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Story: Te tāhere manu – bird catching

Snared bird

Image
Snared bird

This drawing shows how birds were caught by the tākiri method. A noose rests on the snare. When the bird lands, the noose is tugged quickly (tākiri), trapping the bird against the snare. This type of snare is known as a mutu.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: Thomas Downes, 'Bird snaring in Wanganui District', Journal of the Polynesian Society 37 (1928): 24

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Te tāhere manu – bird catching – Snaring methods: tākiri and tāhei, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/11966/snared-bird (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 2 March 2009.