AstronomyNZ

Here turi koka

The fourth lunar month: August-September

When the fourth month arrives then the warmth of spring is first felt, and the tasks of that season are commenced. Parearohi, who is a supernatural woman, appears e haka ana me e arohirohi ana (dancing about and quivering) at the margins of the forests.. This shimmering heat is the first sign of summer.

Her husband is Rehua (the star Antares). When people or vegetation are affected by the heat and dryness of summer they are said to be afflicted by Rehua. Rehua rises in the dawn of early December as the full heat of summer begins.

In this month, the domain of Rehua,the forest greets the increasing warmth with an abundance of flowers. The beautiful yellow Kowhai (Sophora microphilla) flowers on bare wood at the start of spring. Other flowering plants include: the tiny flowered Tawhai Rauriki, the Black beech (Nothofagus solandri); the strong-smelling Hangehange, the Maori privet (Geniostoma rupestre); the pastel Manuka, or tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium); the heavily scented Karo (Pittosporum crassifolium); the bell-like Taurepo, the New Zealand Gloxinia, (Rhabdothamnus solandri); Heketara, a tree daisy (Oleria rani)which is covered with nearly-white blossoms in large clusters; the small-leaved Korokio, (Corokia cotoneaster) and greenish-yellow flowers of the Horopito, (Pepper tree - Pseudowintera axillaries and P. colorata).

Rehua’s children are fish, tuna (eels) and birds that provide food for the people of earth. The nectar-rich blossoms of the yellow kowahi attract Kaka, Tuis, Tauhau (silvereye) and Korimako (bellbird). Nesting birds including Riroriro (Grey warbler), Piwakawaka (Fantail), Miromiro (Tit) and Toutouwai, (Robin) feed on the increasing numbers of insects.

The common eel, one of Rehua’s children, begins its run to the sea in August, and the run continues until early September. In former times eels were preserved by drying. These tuna maroke (dried eels), were a favourite food-supply. The fish were cut open, cleaned, the backbone, head, and tail end removed. They were laid on an elevated grating of green rods, over a ahi rara tuna (fireThey were dried and partially cooked by the heat, after which they hung in a shelter or packed in baskets. When required they were cooked in a steam-oven.

At sea the Moki (Red Snapper), another child, becomes fat in August.

The Gardens

In this month, the preparation of the mara kumara or kumara garden was begun. If the land had been used the season before, then the weeds were removed and the soil loosened. Any existing drainage channels were cleaned out, but if the garden was new then covering of bracken fern, scrub or bush and any large stones, stumps or obstructions had to be removed.

The work of clearing of the land began in late autumn. At this time the aruhe (fern root) had more starch and so provided a good food source for the workers. The plants were pulled up, and piled in heaps and burned. This fire was called ahiaruhe. The Phoenix Astronomical Society recreational observatory is situated in an area where this activity took place i.e. Ahiaruhe, near Carterton, in the Wairarapa District.

Once the land had been cleared, then the soil had to be broken up with the ko or digging stick. The soil was loosened but not turned over.

The kumara, taro and even potato gardens were usually on the warm, northern sides of hills. If the soil needed warming, then small grade gravel was mixed with the soil. All this work was completed before the crop could be sown (usually, from September in northern areas and November in cooler areas).