Matau (Fish hook)

Matau. Fish hook component consisting of rakau (wooden) shank and taura tautai (fishing line). Used for night time fishing. The shank is carved from a single piece of rakau. There is kiriau (hibiscus fibre) lashing around at long end of shank. The lashing at the top of the shank is finished with a cord an iri (braid) taki rua (two-ply), and braided from strips of kiriau that is completed with a knot. There is an indentation at the short end of the shank to facilitate attachment of nio (point).