The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)
Food Platforms, Pahata
Food Platforms, Pahata.
A platform of poles was often provided in the cook-houses to support the small reserve stocks of taro and other foods that were brought in from the cultivations. Such raised platforms or shelves were termed pahata. Taking away the common prefix pa, we have hata which is exactly the same as the Maori whata.