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Te Kai ni Wairau

human history
  • Other Name

    Thatching awl

    Kai ni waerau

  • Description

    Te kai ni wairau. Thatching awl. This kai ni wairau is used to make ato (pieces of thatch) forming the roof of dwellings. Ato are sourced from prepared te baa (coconut leaves) or baan ni kaina (pandanus leaves) that are soaked for up to three days then layered thickly together. When attached carefully these become water tight and are able to protect a dwelling for several years.

    The kai ni wairau is used to pierce the leaves which are then secured with te noko (coconut midrib) through the holes. This kai ni wairau is made of te rii ni kua (porpoise bone), shaped like a flat shard and ground to a sharp point at one end. It is slightly curved in profile with a glossy textured surface. It is a yellowed to off-white colour with dark discolouration around the interior middle layer of the bone.

  • Place
    Tabiteuea/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati
  • Accession Number
    1936.295
  • Accession Date
    1936
  • Other Id

    24101.3 (ethnology)

    187 (Maude Collection)

  • Department

    Pacific

Te Kai ni Wairau; 1936.295; 24101.3, 187; Cultural… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Te Kai ni Wairau; 1936.295; 24101.3, 187; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te Kai ni Wairau; 1936.295; 24101.3, 187; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te Kai ni Wairau; 1936.295; 24101.3, 187; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te Kai ni Wairau; 1936.295; 24101.3, 187; Cultural Permissions Apply

Artefact

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