The history of the New Zealand-Abalone

The historical importance of the Blackfoot-Abalone The history of the New Zealand-Abalone, also called Paúa, goes far back into Maori history. For the Maori (the indigenous inhabitants of New Zealand), the Abalone was not only part of the daily menu. The Abalone played an integral role in the cultural life of the Maoris.   The almost inexhaustible source of food In the mid-14th century, when the Maoris with their double-hulled canoes made their landfall in Aotearoa (today’s New Zealand), no Mammals lived on the young (geologically speaking) island. With the exception of the giant, flightless birds, the ocean was the settlers’ major source of food. Compared to fishing and whaling, it was relatively simple to wade through the shallow waters during ebb tide and to collect the sea snails from the ground. Found in great numbers all along the coastline, the Paúa—with its appetizing and large yield of flesh—was very welcome staple fare for the Maori. Even today Paúa is served as delicacy, comparable in taste to the edible snail (Weinbergschnecke/ escargot)

The eyes of the gods The exposed shells of the Abalone—with their blue, green and pink colours and their iridescent mother-of-pearl—were placed flank wise in the gardens to help nurture the seedlings. Even today you can see the bright shine of the shells fencing the flowerbeds. Plates of Abalone-shell were and are still used to create pictures of Maori-gods. The material serves to intensify the generally frightening expressions of the figures.

Picture. 5: Maori-pendant made of whale-bone with Paúa-inlay

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