The Seventh month (November-December)
Hakihea
The birds now sit on their nests.
At this time, early summer, Matariki (the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus) is seen in the evening sky. Matariki is sometimes spoken of as the offspring of Raro (the earth or the underworld) and Raumati (the summer).
The expressions paki o Matariki (fine weather of Matariki), paki o Ruhi (fine weather of Ruhi), paki o Hewa (fine weather of Hewa) andpaki o Rangi(fine weather of Rangi) are used to denote fine weather.
Maru (gardens)
Frail fences (anau, hoka, pahao, pahauhau, putahui, patakitaki, takitaki, tiopa,) were erected around the cultivations to shelter the kumara plants from the wind and to protect the crops from the pukeko (swamp hen). Sometimes, when no fence was erected, old men were employed to drive away the birds with chants:
Early in December the pure ceremony was performed to lift the tapu from the young crops. Crops were weeded and cultivated but not manured or watered.
“Hie! Hie!
Haere ki ti huhi
Haere kit e repo
Haere ki a Hine-wairua-kokako
Hie! Hie!”
Be off! Be off!
Go to the swamp.
Depart to the swamplands
Go to Hine-wairua-kokako (origin of kokako)
Be off! Be off! Maori agriculture, page 38
A number of different methods were used to scare off kiore (Polynesian rat). In one account, a little hut was built in the middle of the plantation. Radiating out from this hut were lines with fresh-water mussel shells attached. When a kiore was spotted, two old men had the task of jiggling the lines. The clashing shells frightened off the intruders.
The larvae of the convolvulus hawk moth or sphinx moth (Agrius convolvuli), variously called anuhe, awhato, awheto, hotete, hawato and otete rapidly devoured the leaves of the young kumara plants. One method of control was to tether hungry seagulls in the plantations. Another was to gather the green leaves and branches of Kawakawa, Pepper tree(Macropiper excelsum), lay them in rows in the plantations of kumara between the beds and there burn them so that insects harmful to the growing plants were destroyed by the disagreeable bitter smoke. Baskets full of larvae were gathered from the gardens, carried off and burnt.
Fernroot
At this time, in the South Island, the digging of Aruhe, (fernroot) Pteris aquiline var. esculenta was begun. (Fernroot was also known as Aruhe-para, Aruhe-papawai, Aruhe-whatiwhati, Aruhe-paranui). Arhue was available all year round but was best before the height of summer before the stored starch was used up. “The rhizomes were dug up with a pointed stick and stacked in short lengths on end to dry before being removed to the storehouse where they hung from the roof in bundles. They were cooked over the coals but never in the earth oven. They were beaten to remove the outer hard skin, chewed end on, and the fibrous material ejected as it collected in the mouth. The necessity for beating required a flat waterworn stone as an anvil and a wooden beater as part of the kitchen equipment. The beaters were termed patu-aruhe and made from a hard wood.
As a better preparation for chiefs, the pounded fern root was worked with the hands n water in a wooden bowl to extract the starchy material and the water decanted after the starch and settled a the bottom of the bowl. The starch was then made into cakes which were free of fibre.” _ Te Rangi Hiroa: The Coming of the Maori.
Sometimes the Wai harakeke (nectar) from Harakeke(Flax), Phormium was used to sweeten fern cakes. Harakeke fibre was utilized for clothes and ropes while the mildly antiseptic roots were used in poultices. Tui were sometimes taken when feeding from Harakeke(flax) nectar. It was said that the nectar made the flesh particularly sweet.
The children of rehua
The rivers
In swampy areas, Raupo(Typha orientalis) grows abundantly. This plant used by Maori as a food, a medicine, for thatching and to make canoes. The roots and shoots were peeled and eaten raw or cooked.
In rivers, lakes and swamps Tuna (Longfin eel, yellowbelly,Anguilla dieffenbachii) and the Shortfin eel, (silverbelly, Anguilla australis) change appearance as they gradually transform themselves into migrants ready to return to the sea.
Caddisflies, mayflies, stoneflies flies and other flies are major sources of food for such as fish. The fly larvae boom triggers the breeding cycle the fish.
The adults of several species of fish, the larvae of which are collectively called whitebait, spawn at this time. In many species, the adults will die after spawning. Porohe, (Paraki, Common smelt,Retropinna retropinna) spawn in lower reaches of rivers. Another fish also called Porohe, (Paraki, Stokell’s smelt,Stokellia anisodon) spawns over estuarine and river gravels.
The juvenile Papanoko, Torrentfish(Cheimarrichthys fosteri), migrates from the sea up fast flowing boulder streams. The marine-living grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) moves inland up large northern rivers.
The Yellowbelly flounder (Rhomboselea leporina) migrates inshore and can be taken in estuaries in bays and harbours and around river mouths.
The forest
Breeding birds are usually protected by rahui (temporary protection). The Kaka (Nestor Meridionalis), Pipipi Brown creeper (Finschia novaeseelandiae), Mohua Yellowhead, (Mohoua ochrocephala), Hihi (Stitchbird, Notiomystis cincta )and Kokako, (Callaeas Cinerea) and Karakriki, Parakeets; (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae), red-crowned parakeet and (C. auriceps), yellow-crowned parakeet are nesting.. Kereru are feeding on the fruit of Pigeonwood (Hedycarya aborea).
Aotearoa (New Zealand) has several species of Podcarp, including the Totara (P. Totara), Kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydoides), Miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea) andMatai (Prumnopitys taxifolia). The podocarp forest was a favourite nesting site for the cheeky parrot, the Kaka (Nestor Meridionalis) and the Kokako (Blue-wattled crow, Callaeas Cinerea). The podocarp forest provided a succession of plump, juicy fruits for the young nestlings. The Miro had fruit all year round and the fruit of the Miro ripened in summer. In lowland forests, the birds are feeding on the blue-black fruit of the Matai. Matai is popular with kereru and kaka. It’s an edible fruit and was a fruit collected by Maori.
The Lowland Forest Cabbage Tree(Cordyline pumilio) has hanging droops white to pinkish flowers, Houpara flowers (Pseudopanax lessonii) are small, greenish yellow. Seed capsules are already beginning to form on Towai (Weinmannia silicola) and the blue berries of the Hutu shrub (Ascarina lucida) are beginning to mature.
In higher altitude forests, birds rely on the Mountain Cabbage Tree (Cordyline indivisa) which is heavily crowed white to purplish booms. The red flowered Neinei (Dacrophyllum latifoliumm its cousin Mountain Neinei(Dacophyllum traversii), Mountain Ribbonwood(Hoheria lyalii) the fragrant Karo (Pittosporum crassifolium) are beginning to fruit.
Fragrant flowering trees and bushes included: Kaikōmako, (Pennantia corymbose), the sweetly-scented Māhoe, (Whiteywood, Melicytus ramiflorus), loved by the shade loving cicada (Kikihia scutellaris) Putaputawētā (Marbleleaf, Carpodetus serratus) so called because it was full of wētā holes, the fragrant greenish-white flowers of Hangehange (Māori privet Geniostoma rupestre var. ligustrifolium) and the crimson trumpets of Karapapa/(Toropapa, Alseuosmia macrophylla). They contrasted with the dark purple flowers of the Kōtukutuku (Tree Fuchsia, Fuchsia excorticatea), the white-flowering Tāwiniwini (snowberry, Gaultheria antipoda) and fluffy, white Ramarama, (Lophomyrtus bullata).
Epiphytic orchids perched high in the canopy are flowering. They are often whitish or greenish with a little just a dash of colour. On the forest floor, banks and the edges of bush tracks, the tufted Turutu, (Blue Berry, Ink berry, Dianella nigra) has put forth greenish white flowers.
Tui,(Parson bird, Prosthemadera novaseelandiae) eat a variety of insects, small berries and nectar. Tuis love the sweet nectar of the brightly coloured Rewarewa, (NZ honeysuckle, Knightia excelsa), as did the Maori, The birds fed on the Pōhutukawa(NZ Christmas tree,Metrosideros tomentosa).and some Papa-aumu, (papauma, Mistletoe Parasites). Tuis have long tongues, branched and feathery at the tip, for sweeping up nectar from flowers. Tuis are nesting, often in the outer branches of totara trees and in the upper canopy of tall manuka. Some nests are built in kahikatea and kowhai.
Insect including Common Mosquito(Culex pervigilans) and the Winter Mosquito(Aedes antipodeus) provide food for the nesting Pipipi (Brown creeper, Finschia novaeseelandiae) and Mohua (Yellowhead, Mohoua ochrocephala), but they annoy the people. There is a Maori saying:
If you think little things don’t matter, try sleeping in a hut with a mosquito in it.
Hangehange (New Zealand Privet, Geniostoma rupestre) and Kareao, (pirita, Supplejack,Ripogonum scadens) were both used for itch.
The purple, berry-like fruits of Tutu (Coriaria aborea) are a good food source for birds such as the musical Hihi (Stitchbird, Notiomystis cincta) but are poisonous to humans.
Many plants flowering in the 7th month had properties prized by Maori. Whau (Entelea aborescens) wood is very light and was used by Maori as fishing floats. Koromiko (Hebe salicifolia, corriganii, pubescens), Titoki (Titongi, Alectryon excelsus), Pukatea (Laurelia novae-zelandiae) and Kareao, (pirita, Supplejack) vine were medicinal plants.
The seashore
In coastal dunes and shrub lands, Tātaraheke (sand coprosma, Coprosma acerosa), is flowering. Children eat the ttranslucent, pale blue fruit. The clusters of creamy flowers of Tauhinu, (cottonwood, Cassina leptophylla) are followed by fluffy seedheads while Taupata, (Coprosma repens), has greenish-while flowers. The Pīngao, (Golden sand sedge,,Desmoschoenus spiralis) has golden leaves used for weaving.
In the flat bottoms of wide bays and sheltered inshore and estuarine areas, the common Sole, Greenback Flounder and Sand flounder (diamond flounder, dab) are spawning in shallow, warm waters and can be speared at night. When they move to deeper water they can be taken with nets along with Monkfish.
Parore (Blackfish, black snapper, black bream, mangrove fish), Low-eyed mullet, (Piper, garfish) prefer inshore areas of estuaries, mangroves or rocky shores, and can be caught in nets.
Stingrays are permanent residents of estuaries while rig, school sharks and snapper use estuaries as breeding grounds. Adult Pioke, (Rig, spotted dogfish, gummy shark, smooth hound, lemon fish) migrate inshore during spring and summer to broad, shallow bays. They are taken in set nets in summer. They have firm flesh which does not flake easily. Kingfish also visit inshore regions in the warmer months, frequenting harbours, estuaries and shallow bays.
Sandy shores do not have the same rich ecology. but are home for sand-burying species such as flounder, sole and red gurnard. Kahawai, snapper and trevally regularly pass though these areas.
Schooling Red cod (Akaroa cod , Koheru andSilver Warehou) can also be found in shallow water.
Sprat and Pilchards shoal near the surface in summer and can be taken with scoop nets or the beaks of hungry birds like the nesting Black billed gull (Larus bulleri) and Black backed gull(Larus dominicanus). Eastern Little Tern (Sterna albifrons sinensis) is a regular migrant to these sheltered costs in summer months, Little Terns feed only on live fish, with the birds capturing their prey by hovering and making a shallow dive. Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasticus) visit sheltered coastal waters each summer and autumn. The birds may be recognised as they manoeuvre acrobatically, chasing White-fronted Terns or Red-billed Gulls as they feed, and forcing them to disgorge their catch, which the skuas catch in mid-air.
A few black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) migrate to NZ shores in the summer months but approximately 60,000 birds Red (Lesser) Knots(Calidris canutus) arrive in NZ each summer often feeding and associating with the Eastern Bar-tailed Godwits, feeding on molluscs and marine organisms which are closer to the surface.
Approximately 6,000 Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) visit NZ each summer. They are the largest group of Arctic waders to spend the summer feeding on our coasts. Turnstones are usually seen in small flocks, sometimes associating with Banded Dotterels and Pacific golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva). They are very active feeders and prefer stony beaches and rock platforms, coastal mudflats and saltmarshes.
Rocky coastlines provide a range of environments, from rock pools to kelp forests for blennies, kelpfish, butterfish, wrasse, red moki, tarakihi, Blue Moki, Trevally, Blue Warehou, and Porae.
Offshore reefs are often gathering places for species which are dependent on fixed area, and more wide-ranging fish. Conger and moray eels, rock cod, sea perch and red moki are territorial, moving hardly more than a few metres. Blue maomao, the leatherjacket, demoiselles, hapuku and bass grouper are less bound to the reef but still dependent on it for food. Finally, the abundance of fish attracts sharks, barracouta, kingfish, jack mackerels and adult Hapuku, (groper) frequent shallow inshore reefs. The juveniles swim into shallow water and over flat bottoms in summer.
The continental shelf is home to hoki, hake, gemfish, silver and white warehou, and silver and orange roughies. Migrant fish such as tuna pass through these waters. Schooling Blue Mackerel, (English mackerel)are usually caught in set nets.