The traditional Māori ‘internal-barb’ fishhook: Tuhinga 23

Tuhinga 23: 1-8

ABSTRACT: Pre-contact Maori used a variety of fishhook designs to target fish species in different habitats. Following the introduction of metal hooks by Europeans, many traditional fishing practices were abandoned and the matauranga, or knowledge, surrounding the use of the different hooks was lost. However, matauranga contained in ancient Maori karakia, or incantations, documented by early historians reveals clues to how some of the traditional hooks functioned.

KEYWORDS: matauranga, matau, Māori fishhooks, pre-European fishing techniques, hook design.