Building a tau kōura
Kōura (freshwater crayfish) are a taonga species for Māori, a keystone species for ecosystem dynamics and an indicator species for ecosystem health. They are also a species that have been difficult to monitor using conventional scientific methods such as baited traps.
Constructing a whakaweku
Constructing a whakaweku (bracken fern bundle) for catching kōura includes collecting and binding bracken fern fronds.
Sourced from Te Reo o Te Repo – The Voice of the Wetland.
Te Arawa iwi have used a traditional trap known as tau kōura for hundreds of years. Tau kōura use whakaweku (bundles of bracken fern) that are lowered into waterways. They create hiding places for kōura. When the whakaweku is lifted, kōura living within the fern bundles are shaken onto a net.
In this activity, students learn about tau kōura history and design, and how to build whakaweku to monitor kōura.
Tau kōura
Tau kōura is an ancient method for harvesting and rebuilding kōura populations. Dr Ian Kusabs explains how it is now used as a method for monitoring kōura.
Questions for discussion:
How do tau kōura help to rebuild kōura populations?
Why do you think tau kōura are more effective for monitoring kōura than modern methods?
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
discuss what is meant by the terms taonga, keystone and indicator species when referring to kōura
discuss why the tau kōura design is fit for purpose
build a whakaweku from rarauhe/bracken fern fronds
use whakaweku to monitor kōura in a local waterway.
Download the Word file (see link below).
