Sourced from Canterbury Museum
“Māori had many ways of preserving kai including smoking over fire, sun drying on racks and potting in containers with fat. Birds were preserved in pōhā (kelp bags) or in hue (gourds). The pātaka (food storehouse) was used to keep the kai safe and away from predators. At the time of Matariki the pātaka was full of mahinga kai – food gathered ready for the feast…”