Moana Oceania - Tokelau - Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi
Tokelau
Kupega Ta O (Fishing net), Fakaofo, Tokelau Islands
This Kupega Ta O is hand knotted and made of coconut fibre. It is the last known fishing net of this type and used to catch ‘O’, a species of small fish. Pandora Fulimalo Pereira (Curator, Pacific) explains that “the kupega
(owned by the community) was exchanged for a large nylon fishing net. It is a very heavy kupega and when wet even more so. So the toeina (male elders) thought to exchange it for a much lighter net of synthetic material.” This Kupega Ta O is part of a collection of koa Tokelau, Tokelau treasures, donated to Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum by the late Professor Antony Hooper.
Based on the following Kupega Ta O (Fishing net) – Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1973.36, 46017
Illustration by Cecelia Faumuina
Koa Tokelau – Tokelau Treasures
A commentary by Reverend Iutana Pue
Lagi-Maama engaged with Reverend Iutana Pue to share what Tokelau art is from his knowledge and understanding. He gifted us with his thinking and feelings in his paper titled: Ko Tokelau: Tokelau Treasures.
Tok Stori Tuesdays
Reverend Iutana Pue. Reverend Iutana Pue is a Church Minister for Tokelau Congregational Christian Church Auckland. He has been serving and living in Ōtara, South Auckland, with his wife Matālele Pue and their four children: Timena, Hinalagi, Kuata and Savaka, for the past 11 years.