Te katau te tumara

Te katau te tumara. Waist ornament of poliuices shells. This katau (waist ornament) is made with te ira (pandanus leaf), te kora (coconut sennit fibre cordage) and te tumara (poliuices shells). A thick and fibrous length of te ira forms the base of te katau. Te tumara have been positioned individually across the length of te ira. Te tumara are off-white in colour, feature short spires, large belly's and wide apertures. A single perforation has been bored into each tumara. This can be seen upon the exterior belly of te tumara. Te kora has been threaded through each tumara and then lashed onto the thick and fibrous length of te ira. The katau has been left unfastened. The ends show extensions of te ira left with a cut finish. Te katau te tumara would be worn across the waist for ruoia dance by women and young girls.