Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Paukena

Kūmara cultivar. Introduced into the Bay of Islands in early 1900s. Information taken from Yen 1963: 34, 40-41. Different from any with which the Māori was acquainted. Salmon coloured skin with soft, sweet salmon-coloured flesh. Thus labelled Paukena (pumpkin) and spread rapidly to Northland, East Coast and Waikato. Often eaten raw, especially by children. Poor storage quality. Similar to Porto Rico, a standard American variety, grown by Yen for comparison with this material.