AstronomyNZ

Otoru

The third lunar month: July-August

The third month is Otoru, sometimes termed Upokopapa, Torou-kai-tangata and tahu-tahu-ahi (to denote the kindling of many fires), these names are connected with cold and frost.

Puawananga/Poananga (Clematis paniculata) and Tahumate/puahou/Whauwhaupaku (Pseudopanax aboreus – five finger) were said to be twins, the offspring of Rehua (Antares) and Puanga (Rigel). Puanga was their mother. It was the task of the two plants to make known the warmth of summer. 

Rehua is visible throughout the winter in the night-time sky. It rises in the dawn of December as summer becomes really hot, not far away from the longest day of the year (mid-summer solstice). Puanga rises in the dawn at the beginning of the Maori New Year, at the time of the shortest day of the year (mid-winter solstice). It is visible throughout the summer in the night-time sky.

In Autumn, both twins (Puawananga and Whauwhaupaku) were still suckling (in bud). By late spring and early summer the climbing vine was covered in fluffy, silvery seed heads.

Whauwhaupaku, the more important (the firstborn) was born in July. At this time, in winter, before the Puawananga vine flowers, the Whauwhaupaku tree carries many tiny, sweet-scented flowers in ball like clusters.

By late winter and early spring Puawananga responds to the returning warmth of the sun with an abundance of starry, white flowers that Maori wahine (women) delighted to wear in their hair. By spring, the Whauwhaupaku had ball-like clusters of tiny, black fruit.

In the third lunar month, the glossy Puriri (Vitex lucens) was decorated with an extra abundance of pinkish-red flowers and their nectar attracted many birds. The Puriri flowers throughout the year, so it always provides some round, red cherry-like fruit for birds.

The nocturnal kiwi (Brown Kiwi, Great Spotted Kiwi and Little Kiwi) were breeding, emerging at night to gorge on the harvest of fallen forest fruits littering the forest floor and to forage for insects and worms by probing in the ground with their long bills.

In the South Island forest and alpine areas, the Kea (alpine parrot) were nesting. Often these nests were just scratched out hollows on the ground. The kea fed on leaves, buds, fruits, insects and carrion and the forest rang with their penetrating and drawn out territorial “keaa”.

Birds were not usually hunted during their breeding season. They were protected by a rahui (ban).

References:

Elsdon Best: Forest Lore of the Maori (pages 33-34)