Kākā Pōria - Parrot Leg Ring

The Kākā Pōria is a Parrot Leg Ring.

Pōria were used historically by Māori to tether Kākā Parrots by the leg.
You would simply slip the Parrot's foot through the large hole in the Pōria, and it wouldn't be able to take it off.

You would then attach a tether cord through the small hole in the Pōria, to tie the Parrot to a tree, near a branch that it would sit on. Then, you would prod and disturb the Parrot, causing it to send out a distress signal that other Kākā would hear, and come to investigate!
From there, it was as simple as catching dinner!

The Pōria is a very old form - beautiful in the ways that it is both symmetrical, and asymmetrical, at the same time. The matte finish, achieved with sandstone, is what our ancestors used to do - and is an art of it's own.
This taonga is designed to not look 'perfectly symmetrical' - that's part of it's beauty.

Dark Brown 4-Plait Polyester Cord

70 x 35mm