Te tumara are white in colour, feature short spires, elongated belly's, dark brown internal spires and wide apertures. Two holes have been bored into each tumara - one near the open edge of the aperture and one opposite, through the belly. Te kora has been threaded through these holes, tacking te tumara onto the folded waist band of te ira. Baste stitches of kora can be seen from the reverse of te katau. The ends of te katau te tumara have been finished in the form of three strand plaits. A thick dark brown cord has been twined as part of the plaits portrying its use internally across the band of te ira and then used to knot off the plaited ends. Te katau te tumara would be worn across the waist for ruoia dance by women and young girls.