Matau (Fish hook)

Matau. Fish hook with parau (mother of pearl) shank and nio (hook point) auri (metal). Shank is carved from light coloured parau forming a long narrow strip which includes a part of the hinge (to form the thicker proximal end) as well as the area towards the lip of the parau (at the thinner end). Sides of the parau shank have been ground down smooth and polished. The nio is most likely made from a metal nail and is placed in between two small pieces of carved rakau (wood), providing additional support for the nio. The nio and the rakau are secured using cotton thread that is lashed around the shank. The snood consists of a cotton cord in an iri (braid) taki rua (two-ply), which is tied around the base of the nio, running the length of the shank. The snood is further secured at the top of the shank with cotton thread lashing threaded through a hole drilled at the top of the shank. The same hole is used to also attach the taura tautai (fishing line). The hackle consists of strips of cott