Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Santalum cunninghamii

maire taiki, tāiko (Williams 1971); maire (Taylor 1870) 

NZ sandalwood, willow-leaved maire

Supplied hardwood for war implements and carved walking sticks Root pounders, flax beaters, digging sticks. Cabinetmaking (Colenso 1868a)

Used for wooden spades, digging sticks - hoto, ko, kaheru, pere, tipi. Certain weapons such as wahaika made from roots. (Best 1907, 1925, 1927)

Heavy, durable. Favoured for use as a block when cutting greenstone (Best 1912).

Used for torches for lighting houses. Smokeless and longlasting. All species of maire used. Details in Best 1925.

"E! ko te matakahi maire! Lo! the iron-wood wedge!

Used of a warrior. Meaning: He separates the enemy before him, as the wedge of the hard Maire wood (Santalum cunninghamii) splits up a log." (Colenso 1879: 140)