Although the paua’s black outer appearance is not very appealing, for centuries the indigenous Maori of New Zealand have prized the meat of the paua for food.
Kuigi paua’de koja tume väliskiht pole just eriti ligitõmbav, on Uus - Meremaa põliselanikud maoorid juba sajandeid neid merikõrvu toiduks tarvitanud.