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Story: Te tāhere manu – bird catching

Korapa traps

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Korapa traps

The korapa trap was mainly used to catch robins, but was also used for other birds. It was pegged upright, and bait – worms, berries or grubs – was scattered beside it. When robins arrived, the string was pulled and the trap landed on the bird.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: Elsdon Best, Forest lore of the Maori. Wellington: Dominion Museum, 1942

by J. McDonald

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Te tāhere manu – bird catching – Spears, rods, hands and traps, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11993/korapa-traps (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 2 March 2009.