Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Austrofestuca littoralis, Festuca littoralis, Poa triodiodes

POUAKA, hinarepe, mātiatia, mātihetihe (all in Williams 1971) 

sand tussock

Weka were wrapped in pouaka grass and put in trenches for a few days before being cooked.

Before the Pakeha runholder came with cattle, and annual spring fires, the pouaka was plentiful. It was gathered, and soaked in water, then squeezed to extract the juice - te wai pouaka. The juice was used in drinks to treat coughs and colds. The grass was pounded and the juice wrung out as a mouthwash for thrush in babies. (Beattie 1994)