Poi Making
Poi Making
Create your own set of poi adorned with creative tuhituhi designs with reflections of ‘Ko wai au’
Use your poi to perform the famous rhythmic poi dances ‘Poi e’ and ‘E rere taku poi’
Back to Papamiharo 2026
Use your poi to perform the famous rhythmic poi dances ‘Poi e’ and ‘E rere taku poi’
Papamahi
Task 01: Gather the materials and a pair of scissors for poi making
a. Black wool 8ply
b. Colored wool 8ply
c. Poi stuffing 20g bag
d. Cotton fabric material or t.shirt material
e. White acrylic paint pen & Art pencil
f. Coloured acrylic paint pens
g. Tribal patterned stencil
h. Cotton string
b. Colored wool 8ply
c. Poi stuffing 20g bag
d. Cotton fabric material or t.shirt material
e. White acrylic paint pen & Art pencil
f. Coloured acrylic paint pens
g. Tribal patterned stencil
h. Cotton string
Task 02: Weaving a four-plait braid for the taura
a. Cut 8 lengths of black wool at 50cm long.
b. Do the same for your coloured wool.
c. Lay the wool strands together and tie them altogether making a knot 10cm along the length before starting a four plait.
d. Watch a video tutorial online on how to make a poi and how to weave a four plait. How to make a poi, Koakoadesign.
Notes: Make sure to leave 10cm of wool strands either end of your plait to complete the next steps.
b. Do the same for your coloured wool.
c. Lay the wool strands together and tie them altogether making a knot 10cm along the length before starting a four plait.
d. Watch a video tutorial online on how to make a poi and how to weave a four plait. How to make a poi, Koakoadesign.
Notes: Make sure to leave 10cm of wool strands either end of your plait to complete the next steps.
Task 03: Create the tassel (Hukahuka) for one end of the plait
a. Cut 20 lengths of black wool at 25cm.
b. Do the same for your coloured wool.
c. Take one end of your four plait, the unwoven strands past the knot, and split evenly in half.
d. Take your 40 lengths of 25cm stands of wool and bundle them together.
e. Take the loose ends of your plaited taura (the ones you split) and use it to tie around the middle of your bundle of wool stands. (Tie securely with a knot).
f. Brush all the wool strands down after tying.
g. Now form a ball over the securely tied knot by holding the wool strands firmly around it.
h. Tie this off with a spare piece of black wool
i. Trim the stands tidily.
b. Do the same for your coloured wool.
c. Take one end of your four plait, the unwoven strands past the knot, and split evenly in half.
d. Take your 40 lengths of 25cm stands of wool and bundle them together.
e. Take the loose ends of your plaited taura (the ones you split) and use it to tie around the middle of your bundle of wool stands. (Tie securely with a knot).
f. Brush all the wool strands down after tying.
g. Now form a ball over the securely tied knot by holding the wool strands firmly around it.
h. Tie this off with a spare piece of black wool
i. Trim the stands tidily.
Task 04: Design your Tohu
a. On a piece of paper, use the stencil provided (or freehand), design your own tohu that reflects what’s important to you.
b. Choose your favourite tohu
c. In the centre of your cotton fabric and draw your tohu using a pencil
d. Using a white paint pen go over your pencil drawn lines. You can cover your entire cotton fabric with patterns that represent you.
c. Add more detail and colour to the patterns and tohu using your selected coloured pens.
Below are the meaning for each tohu:
MANGOPARE - Strength and Resilience
KORU - Growth, Whānau and Life/Ora
POUTAMA - Journey, “Leveling up”, Journey of Learning and Journey of Achievement
NIHONIHO - Maunga, Kāinga, Kaitiaki, Whakapapa, Your siblings, Parents and Grandparents
UNAUNAHI - Sharing of wealth, Sharing of abundance, Sharing to others who might not be as lucky as you, Generosity.
b. Choose your favourite tohu
c. In the centre of your cotton fabric and draw your tohu using a pencil
d. Using a white paint pen go over your pencil drawn lines. You can cover your entire cotton fabric with patterns that represent you.
c. Add more detail and colour to the patterns and tohu using your selected coloured pens.
Below are the meaning for each tohu:
MANGOPARE - Strength and Resilience
KORU - Growth, Whānau and Life/Ora
POUTAMA - Journey, “Leveling up”, Journey of Learning and Journey of Achievement
NIHONIHO - Maunga, Kāinga, Kaitiaki, Whakapapa, Your siblings, Parents and Grandparents
UNAUNAHI - Sharing of wealth, Sharing of abundance, Sharing to others who might not be as lucky as you, Generosity.
Task 05: Creating a Poi
d. Split the 10cm long strands (the other excess end) in half and tie them around a ball of pillow foam securely. Add more pillow foam if the ball is too small.
e. Trim off the excess wool.
f. Shape the pillow foam to create a ball. Ask an adult to help.
g. Wrap the cotton cloth around your ball of pillow foam tightly and gather and fold the cloth around the neck of the taura, then tie the cloth off at the neck of the taura using cotton string.
h. Trim off the excess cloth.
e. Trim off the excess wool.
f. Shape the pillow foam to create a ball. Ask an adult to help.
g. Wrap the cotton cloth around your ball of pillow foam tightly and gather and fold the cloth around the neck of the taura, then tie the cloth off at the neck of the taura using cotton string.
h. Trim off the excess cloth.
