AstronomyNZ

Hakihea

Hakihea - The birds now sit on their nests.

At this time, early summer, Matariki (the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus) is seen in the evening sky. Matariki is sometimes spoken of as the offspring of Raro (the earth or the underworld) and Raumati (the summer).

The expressions paki o Matariki (fine weather of Matariki), paki o Ruhi (fine weather of Ruhi), paki o Hewa (fine weather of Hewa) and paki o Rangi (fine weather of Rangi) are used to denote fine weather.

Breeding birds were protected by rahui (temporary protection) and could not be taken for food. Birds protected by rahui included the Kaka (Nestor Meridionalis), Pipipi (Brown creeper), Finschia novaeseelandiae, Mohua (Yellowhead), Mohoua ochrocephala, Hihi (Stitchbird), Notiomystis cincta and Kokako, Callaeas Cinerea.

Aotearoa (New Zealand) has several species of Podcarp, including the Totara (P. Totara), Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydoides), Miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea and Matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia). The podocarp forest was a favourite nesting site for the cheeky parrot, the Kaka (Nestor Meridionalis) and the Kokako (Blue-wattled crow), Callaeas Cinerea. The podocarp forest provided a succession of plump, juicy fruits for the young nestlings. The Miro had fruit all year round, while the Totara and Kahikatea fruited in autumn and the fruit of the Miro ripened in summer.

Fragrant flowering trees and bushes included: Kaikomako, Pennantia corymbosa, the sweetly-scented Mahoe, (Whiteywood), Melicytus ramiflorus, Putaputaweta (Marbleleaf, so called because it was full of weta holes) Carpodetus serratus, the fragrant greenish-white flowers of Hangehange (Maori privet) Geniostoma rupestre var. ligustrifolium and the crimson trumpets of Karapapa/Toropapa, Alseuosmia macrophylla. They contrasted with the dark purple flowers of the Kotukutuku (Tree Fuchsia), Fuchsia excorticatea, the white-flowering Tawiniwini (snowberry), Gaultheria antipoda and fluffy, white Ramarama, Lophomyrtus bullata.

The insect population enlarged with the increasing warmth and nectar supplies, providing food for the nesting Pipipi (Brown creeper), Finschia novaeseelandiae and Mohua (Yellowhead), Mohoua ochrocephala. The musical Hihi (Stitchbird), Notiomystis cincta enjoyed fruit, insects and nectar.

The Tui and bellbird enjoyed the nectar from blossoms of Rewarewa (NZ honeysuckle), Knightia excelsa and the Pohutukawa (NZ Christmas tree), Metrosideros tomentosa. They were not nesting and Tui were sometimes taken when feeding from Harakeke (flax) nectar. It was said that the nectar made the flesh particularly sweet.

At this time, in the South island, the digging of Aruhe, (fernroot) Pteris aquiline var. esculenta was begun. (Fernroot was also known as Aruhe-para, Aruhe-papawai, Aruhe-whatiwhati, Aruhe-paranui). Arhue was available all year round, but was best before the height of summer before the stored starch was used up. "The rhizomes were dug up with a pointed stick and stacked in short lengths on end to dry before being removed to the storehouse where they hung from the roof in bundles. They were cooked over the coals but never in the earth oven. They were beaten to remove the outer hard skin, chewed end on, and the fibrous material ejected as it collected in the mouth. The necessity for beating required a flat waterworn stone as an anvil and a wooden beater as part of the kitchen equipment. The beaters were termed patu-aruhe and made from a hard wood.

As a better preparation for chiefs, the pounded fern root was worked with the hands n water in a wooden bowl to extract the starchy material and the water decanted after the starch and settled a the bottom of the bowl. The starch was then made into cakes which were free of fibre." _ Te Rangi Hiroa: The Coming of the Maori.

Sometimes the Wai harakeke (nectar) from Harakeke (Flax), Phormium was used to sweeten fern cakes. Harakeke fibre was utilized for clothes and ropes while the mildly antiseptic roots were used in poltices.

In coastal areas, Tataraheke (sand coprosma) Coprosma acerosa, is flowering. The translucent, pale blue fruit was eaten by children. The clusters of creamy flowers of Tauhinu, (cottonwood), Cassina leptophylla are followed by fluffy seedheads while Taupata, Coprosma repens, has greenish-while flowers. The Pingao, (Golden sand sedge), Desmoschoenus spiralis has golden leaves used by Maori for weaving. The grass-like seed can be seen in small, dark brown clusters, arranged in a slow spiral up the stem in early summer.

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