Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

p.31 At least 3 trees of high mana in Tūhoe country:

i) Pukatea, called Putatieke, grew in Otara Gorge near Opotiki. Hollow tree used for bones of dead, now collapsed.

ii) Hinau, called Hunahuna-a-po. Fertility tree. On banks of stream called Horomanga-opo, about 6 miles from Fort Galatea. Brought by women Kuiwai and Haungaroa in canoe Utupawa. Tree divided close to roots into 2 stems, peka maroke, the withered stem and the stem of life.

iii) Hinau, Te Iho-a-Kataka, of Ohaua-te-rangi, in the Ruatahuna valley. Relic of Kataka, granddaughter of ancestor Irakewa. Tūhoe wrap iho of children in leaves of aute, or raukawa, and hang on boughs.

p.39 When member of Waitaha or Whauwhau-harakeke tribe of Hauraki Gulf died, no green flax, only carefully dried leaves of P. tenax or Cordyline used, otherwise whales would not attend funeral feast; (that is, they would be stranded).