Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Reference to a tree that shaded house of priest Uenuku in Hawaiki in old waiata: "Te kura-whakamarumaru o te whare o Uenuku" . Cowan says this tree in most Māori traditions (e.g. History of Arawa written for George Grey by chief Wī Maihi Te Rangikaheke and others) spoken of as poroporo. But the kuru is a general Polynesian name for breadfruit. Mentions another instance in which kuru tree mentioned in a pihapiha-kō-komara, a kūmara planting chant. Recited to Cowan by Tamarangi of Mokoia Island, Rotorua. There is reference to Waeroti and Waerota, the legendary South Sea Island homes of the kūmara, and the karakia proceeds: "Though we have not here the fruit of the kuru (te hua o te kuru) spread out abundant is the produce of the hue" P. Smith comments: Another quotation from a Ngāti Toa tapatapa kūmara well supports this argument "Te tau mai as to hua kuru, Tina! Horohia! Oi!"