To the Tuhoe people, the name of the fourth month is Mahuru. In this month the earth has become warmed, as also plants and trees are responding to the increased warmth.
In the north of Aotearoa, Matariki Whakaahu (Castor and Pollux) were stars that were used to foretell the coming season.
When the fourth month arrives then the warmth of spring is first felt, and the tasks of that season are commenced. Parearohi, who is a supernatural woman, appears e haka ana me e arohirohi ana (dancing about and quivering) at the margins of the forests.. This shimmering heat is the first sign of summer.
Her husband is Rehua (the star Antares). When people or vegetation are affected by the heat and dryness of summer they are said to be afflicted by Rehua. Rehua rises in the dawn of early December as the full heat of summer begins.
The children of Rehua respond to the increased warmth. Puahou (Tahumate, Whauwhaupaku, five finger, Pseudopanax aboreus) has tiny, black fruit in ball-like clusters, while Puawananga (Poananga, Clematis paniculata) lights up the forest canopy with masses of pure white flowers.
In this month, the domain of Rehua, the forest greets the increasing warmth with an abundance of flowers. The flowers attract the birds and insects. The birds feast on the nectar insects and this provides the bounty required for successful nesting. The nectar-rich blossoms of the yellow kowahi attract Kaka, Tuis, Tauhau (silvereye) and Korimako (bellbird). Nesting birds including Riroriro (Grey warbler), Piwakawaka (Fantail), Miromiro (Tit) and Toutouwai, (Robin) feed on the increasing numbers of insects.
The seasonal marker, the beautiful , drooping, large, bright yellow Kowhai (Sophora microphilla) flowers on bare wood at the start of spring. Kowhai nectar is popular with tuis, silvereyes and bellbirds.
In spring, the forest is a fragrant place. Large bunches of small, creamy white flowers of a tree daisy, Rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda) scent the day, while the heavily scented Karo (Pittosporum crassifolium) is particularly fragrant in the cool of the evening.
In the undershrub, the fragrant hanging trumpet-shaped flowers Karapapa, (Toropapa, Alseuosmia macrophylla) have a strong and pleasant perfume. The small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers of Hangehange, (Māori privet, Geniostoma rupestre) are heavily perfumed.
Among the foliage of the forest canopy, the white, tubular, sweetly scented flowers of Kaihua (New Zealand Jasmine, Parsonia heterohyllla) gleam among the dark leaves. On the boughs and branches ephphytes such as Kiekie (Freycinetia banksii) flower.
Where the there is a break in the canopy and the light reaches the forest floor, tall, weeping lower heads of Māpere, (Cutty grass, Gahnia setifolia) look delicate but brushing against the leaves will often cut your skin. Nearby, native orchids flower along the edges of forest tracks: creamy yellow, sweetly scented Peka-a-Waka, (Bamboo Orchid, Earina mucronata) in long spays and the shy white striped green flowers of Hooded orchid, Tutukiwi, (Pterostylis banksii).
To the knowedgable, the forest provided a wealth of medicinal resources. Kūmarahou, (Papapa, , Pomaderris kumeraho) The creamy yellow flowers and even the leaves lather profusely when rubbed between wet hands. It was widely used by early settlers and dubbed Gumdigger’s soap. Horopito, (Pepper tree – Pseudowintera axillaries, P. colorata) taste peppery when chewed.It was known as “Maori painkiller” or “Bushman’s painkiller”. As a cooking component, it taste diminishes bitter flavours.
In the undershrub, Taurepo, (New Zealand Gloxinia, Rhabdothamnus solandri) the eye-catching yellow-orange to dark red bell-like flowers hang prettily among small, dark-veined leaves. A tree daisy, Heketara, (Oleria rani) bears large posies of white flowers conspicuous yellow centres. At the forest margins , Korokia, (Corokia buddleioides) is tipped with bright yellow, star-like flowers. The coprosmas, which belong to the coffee family, are in bloom. The flowers are generally fairly inconspicuous but the berries, which take a year to ripen, provide a feast for birds. Kanono (C. grandiflolia), Mamangi (C. aborea), Karamu (C. robusta), Shiny Karamu (C. lucida), Taupata (C. repens) and the pungent Stinkwood (C. foetidissima) are all members of this family.
In southern areas, Tawhai (Rauriki, Black beech, Nothofagus solandri) is flowering. The male flowers are small but a striking red colour. The trees flower abundantly every few years, generally in unison. This orchistrated flowering, called beech blast, is vitally important to the native parrot, the Kea, providing a food source that brings the bird into breeding condition.
In spring, Tānekaha, celery pine (Phyllocladus trichomanoides) bears small red or purple male cones. Finger-shaped male cones are maturing on the majestic Kauri (Agathis australis). Some of these forest giants are believed to be over 2,000 years.
In exposed shrubland, or coastal areas, the pastel Mānuka, (Kahikatoa,Tea tree, red manuka, Leptospermum scoparium) is small, delicate white or pink tinged flowers. Captain Cook and early settlers used the fresh leaves to make tea and beer.
By the sea, the feathery arching plumes plumes of Toetoe (Cortaderia splendens) attractively frame sea views.
Rehua’s children are fish, tuna (eels) and birds that provide food for the people of earth. “The adult eel migrations to the sea take place in March, April and May. The natives have no record of the large eels returning, but the young fry go up the rivers in the spring in countless numbers.” (Best; Fishing methods, page 94)
A description of the taking of eels fry at the Ohura tributary of the Whanganui river. At the base of a waterfall is a deep pool wherein the eel-fry are seen in great numbers during the running season, and wherein they appear to stay awhile ere ascending the fall. In that pool natives take then in great numbers by placing in the pool rolled-up bundles of fern, brush, or rushes, into which the elvers, from 2 in to 6 in. in length, creep and are so lifted from the pool. These crude fish traps are termed koere by local natives; in some other districts they are known as taruke, whakwekuand tau. (Best; Fishing methods, page 94)
The lava of the Longfin eel, ( yellowbelly, Anguilla dieffenbachii) spawned in the subtropical Pacific Ocean, perhaps near Tonga, enters the rivers in spring as transparent glass eel, matures to become a brown eel and hides at the bottom of rivers and banks. Adult yellowbellies take up to 30 years to mature. They are found in rivers and other varied habitats: streams, rivers wetlands and lakes and high elevation lakes, large ones in stream pools up to 300km inland. They are secretive and nocturnal, living in instream cover or under overhung banks; emerges at night to feed. Female may stay in freshwater for 80+ years.
The lava of the Shortfin eel, (silverbelly, Anguilla australis) spawned in the western suptropical Pacific Ocean (perhaps between Fiji and Tahiti) and enters rivers in spring as transparent glass eel, enters substrate and becomes brown coloured. Adults can be found up to 300km inland. They are usually secretive and nocturnal. Adult matures 15-30 years. Females may stay in freshwater 40+ years.
The adults of both eels migrate to the sea in summer to return to their spawning grounds. Historical records report that in the In Horowhenua, Buller area, the common eel, one of Rehua’s children, began its run to the sea in August, and the run continued until early September. In former times eels were preserved by drying. These tuna maroke (dried eels), were a favourite food-supply. The fish were cut open, cleaned, the backbone, head, and tail end removed. They were laid on an elevated grating of green rods, over a ahi rara tuna.They were dried and partially cooked by the heat, after which they hung in a shelter or packed in baskets. When required they were cooked in a steam-oven.
Adult piharau (kanakana, Lamprey, Geotria australis) are migrating upstream in winter and spring. They lie hidden amongst stream-bed boulders or beneath overhung banks for over a year while developing sexual maturity.
The expression Kohi o Autahi (Canopus) denotes the heavy rains of early winter. This is the sign for the inangato go to sea and their give birth to the young. This is called the migration of the Kohi o Autahi, or Autahi-ma-Rehua (Canopus); while the second migration is called that of Takero (Nga unahi o Takero, shooting stars) which occurs when the star Takero appears. In the fourth month the Children of Rehua” ascend to the rivers. (Best; Astronomical knowledge, page 43)
Some of the lavae of Porohe, (Paraki, Common smelt, Retropinna retropinna) spawned in summer and autumn return from the sea as transparent white-bait like juveniles, but most return as adults.
Occurs in large roving shoals in estuaries and inland rivers, usually in still or gently flowing waters, often in open waters and around margins of lakes. Matures at one or two, spawns in lower reaches of rivers in summer and autumn. Adults die after spawning. Lavae go to sea. Some return in spring as transparent whitebait-like juveniles, but most as adults in spring/summer.
The gardens
In this month, the preparation of the māra kumara or kumara garden was begun. If the land had been used the season before, then the weeds were removed and the soil loosened. Any existing drainage channels were cleaned out, but if the garden was new then covering of bracken fern, scrub or bush and any large stones, stumps or obstructions had to be removed.
The work of clearing of the land began in late autumn. At this time the aruhe (fern root) had more starch and so provided a good food source for the workers. The plants were pulled up, piled in heaps and burned. This fire was called ahiaruhe. Stonehenge Aotearoa is situated in an area where this activity took place i.e. Ahiaruhe, near Carterton, in the Wairarapa District.
Once the land had been cleared, then the soil had to be broken up with the ko or digging stick. The soil was loosened but not turned over.
The kumara, taro and even potato gardens were usually on the warm, northern sides of hills. If the soil needed warming, then small grade gravel was mixed with the soil. All this work was completed before the crop could be sown (usually, from September in northern areas and November in cooler areas).
Saltwater fish
At sea the Moki (Red Snapper), another child, becomes fat in August.
Sand flounder, (diamond flounder, dab) are spawning in estuaries and small coastal bays. They were usually taken in set nets or by beach seining, but could speared. In the South Island, Waihora Lagoon there were four types of patiki, mahoao, raututu, whaiwhai and patotara. Mahoao were taken from May until the end of August and were preserved in considerable numbers for future use. By July-August mahoao have come to an end and the raututu and whaiwhai species are taken for the rest of the year. (Best, fishing methods, page 227
Pioke, (Rig, spotted dogfish, gummy shark, smooth hound, lemon fish) is a sharklike animal common around Aotearoa. Adults migrate inshore during spring and summer to broad, shallow bays., then migrate out to cooler water in winter. The first Pioke can be caught in set nets in spring, but the main harvest was in summer. The Elephant Fish, another shark relative is common along east coast of South island, up to Cape Egmont and Hawkes Bay. Favour shallower regions, especially in spring when females migrate inshore to lay their eggs capsules. This animal was taken by set netting shallow bays during the spawning season.