Mutu kākā (bird snare)

The mutu kākā form of bird snare was a simple but effective method of snaring large numbers of the noisy, socially garrulous, and inquisitive kākā (parrots: Nestor meridionalis). A plaited muka (flax fibre) cord would be jerked trapping the legs of the kākā against the protruding upright of the mutu kākā.

Mōkai (tamed birds)
Young kākā were easily captured and tamed. They were held captive by a small leg ring called a pōria, which had a small cord attached to prevent the bird flying off. Kākā pōria (leg rings) could be quite ornate and were also worn as pendants. Mōkai were made to call out to attract wild birds in the vicinity, who would come in great numbers upon hearing the cry of the captured bird. Mutu kākā were then used to capture birds as they alighted on the horizontal perch of the snare.