Poi (kinetic percussion instrument)

Poi Houhere.

This poi has been woven using  the undyed inner bark of houhere (lacebark tree). The inner bark has been stripped into long strands and dried, these prepared strips have been wrapped longitudinally around a core of newspaper which forms the ball of this poi.

The strips of houhere have been secured at the neck with tied muka (New Zealand flax fibre) in two places. The cord of this poi is made of using a combination of natural coloured and dyed pink or red muka, which has been twirled together using miromiro (rolling technique). The handle of the poi is completed with a large decorative tassel of undyed houhere strips combined with natural and dyed pink or red muka.

The dyed muka of this poi has faded with time.