Rimurapa

These images of rimurapa (bull kelp) have been inspired by the Kāi Tahu / Kāti Māmoe rokiroki kai tradition of preserving tītī (mutton bird) chicks in pōhā. Pōhā are airtight storage containers made from rimurapa, harakeke and tōtara bark. Rimurapa is a large, brown/green, edible seaweed found throughout the southern hemisphere. There are three species, of which Durvillaea. antarctica and D. poha are used in the production of pōhā – continuing a mahika kai tradition that has been used for centuries. Mahika kai literally means ‘to work the food’ – and relates to the traditional food resources and their ecosystems, as well as the practices involved in making, gathering, and protecting these resources. The rimurapa has been sourced from Huetepara / Lyall Bay – where it is washed up following regular southerly storms.