Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Four plants in the canoe Tainui were under the special care of the chiefs" wives, Marama and Whatatirangi - the kūmara, the hue, the aute and para or King Fern. When settlement established something wrong with plants tended by Marama. Para converted to kiokio, Blechnum capense, [now Blechnum novae-zelandiae], that does not develop large starchy rhizomes. Hue became mawhai, Sicyos angulata [now Sicyos australis], with small spiny fruits. Kūmara became pohue, Calystegia sepium, and aute became whau, with valueless bark. Marama had behaved badly and her tapu was worthless. Anderson goes on to relate the legend of Taukata and Hoaki in relation to the introduction of kūmara.

Author outlines traditions relating to the origin, introduction and cultivation of yam, taro, kūmara, aute, gourd, para or King Fern. Also discusses tradition surrounding the karaka.