Hīnaki (eel/fish trap)

This hinaki (eel/fish trap) was used to catch koaro fish (Galaxias brevipinnis).It is made from slim manuka (tea tree: Leptospernum scoparium) stems and dressed muka (flax fibre) cord. It is a fine example of the torotika method of weaving, where the stems are arranged longitudinally and braced with latitudinal looped twists.Hinaki weaving was usually the domain of men who were adept at quickly and deftly constructing sometimes very massive hinaki to catch food from rivers.

Usage
Hinaki would be baited and placed with the current in a river. The targeted fish would enter the inverted hole at one end and become trapped. Hinaki are still used today – if somewhat rarely.