Matau (Fish hook)

Matau. Fish hook with parau (mother of pearl shell) shank and nio (point) made from animal tooth. The parau shank is cut from light coloured parau in 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 shell (at the thinner end). The sides of the parau shank have been ground and polished. The nio consists of an animal's tooth and is 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 that is drilled at the top of the shank. The same hole is used to attach the taura tautai (fishing line).