Wairewa Research Project - Tuna heke
Every autumn mature female tuna (eels) start their migration from Te Roto o Wairewa (Lake Forsyth) to the Pacific Ocean and they head for a region near Tonga where spawning takes place. To leave the lake the tuna have to cross the shingle bar at Birdlings Flat and it is a traditional customary harvest for the people of Wairewa to capture some of the tuna and store them for eating later in the year. Here are some pictures of the traditional harvest, known as the heke (migration or journey).
George Skipper and Vincent Leith preparing for the heke.
(Iaean Cranwell)
Before the tuna leave the lake they stop eating for several weeks and their intestines shrivel up in preparation for the sea voyage. The eels move to the end of the lake and during the night they travel over the shingle bar to the ocean. As part of the heke drains are constructed in the shingle to guide the tuna to small pools where they are gaffed.
Ditches constructed at the end of Te Roto o Wairewa (Lake Forsyth) for capturing of eels during the annual tuna heke.
(John Payne)
Following capture the tuna are hung on a whata (platform) to bleed and then gutted and filleted (mahi pawhara).
Tuna hanging from whata
(Iaean Cranwell)
Mahi Pawhara - filleting of tuna (Iaean Cranwell)
Tuna are then rolled and dried and/or smoked ready for storage.
Vincent rolling tuna
(Iaean Cranwell)
Tuna fillets drying on whata
(Iaean Cranwell)
Tuna hanging in the smoking chamber
(Iaean Cranwell)
