Kotta Pora
- A smooth horizontal pole or bamboo beam
- Two soft pillows or cloth bolsters
- A pit of soft mud, sand, or shallow water beneath the pole
Pole mounted about waist to chest height over the landing pit, long enough for two players to sit facing each other from opposite ends.
Two competitors sit or balance astride the pole, facing each other from opposite ends above the soft pit.
Each player holds a pillow or padded bolster and uses only that to strike their opponent, with hands never allowed to grab or push directly.
Players may block incoming swings with their own pillow but must keep their balance on the pole throughout the exchange.
A player wins the bout by knocking their opponent off the pole and into the pit below, or by being the last one still seated after an agreed time limit.
Winners often stay on the pole to face the next challenger, turning the match into a running tournament.
Spectators typically gather around the pit, cheering and calling out as each new pair takes the pole.