Tapa cloth beater with the zigzag ridge and punched handle design typical of the island of Niue.

Such beaters were used for making a paper-like cloth. The finest sort was made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree. Strips of bark were rolled up outer side inwards, tied and left to dry. The bark was was then soaked in water to soften and the outer layer scraped off. Then it was beaten on a smooth board until it formed a flexible sheet. The resulting thin cloth could be thickened by beating several sheets together or strips could be joined side by side to make a larger sheet.

This beater has graded levels of ridges on each side to allow for different strengths of beating. Ridges work to spread the tapa, while the one smooth side would perfect a final smooth surface.

Part of a collection made by William Kershaw, Able Seaman on 'John Williams I' this was formerly in the collections of the London Missionary Society.