Peke mau tuna

A holding bag

This peke mau tuna (holding bag) for tuna, or eel, was woven using strands of harakeke (flax).

When the hinaki (eel trap) was full, the eels inside it were transferred to the peke mau tuna. That was then immersed in the river and used as a holding bag until the time was right to bring the entire catch in. This meant that the eels were kept alive and stayed fresh for longer.

He peke mau tuna

I whiria tenei peke mau tuna ma te harakeke.

I te wa ka puheki ana te hinaki i te tuna, ka purua atu nga tuna ki roto i te peke mau tuna nei, ka whakatotohu ano ki roto i te wai, a tona wa, ka hikina ake ki rahaki, katahi ano ka putua. Ka noho ora tonu nga tuna i roto i te peke mau tuna.