25 November 2013 ~ Arataki
Listening to: Ed Tang & The Chops ~ Pualei (Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner)
Part of my trip last weekend was to a rain forest which is also located on the west of Auckland, and included the Arataki Visitor Center.
The entrance is marked by this totem, known as a pou, which acts as a guardian of the Arataki visitor Center and surrounding areas. In depicting the ancestors of the Kawerau iwi, it is a reaffirmation of the Kawerau mana in the area. The ancestors are referred to top to bottom:
Tiriwa
Hape
Hoturoa
Maki
Te Kawerau a Maki
Te Hawiti
This is the Ponga, or Silver Fern, New Zealand's national emblem. The underside of the fronds would guide travelers via the moon reflection from the water, or side up as markers on tracks. Trunks of this tree fern are used for low retaining walls and living fences.
This is the Whau, or Corkwood NZ Mulberry. It has the lightest wood in the world. Maori used the wood to make fishing floats and marker buoys. The seed capsules are covered with spines. It is the only New Zealand plant with this kind of fruit.
Nikau is the most southern naturally growing palm in the world. The hard seeds are sometimes used by kiwi (the bird) as gizzard stones and early European settlers used them as ammunition. The large leaves were often used by Maori as thatching for houses and leaf strips were used for weaving baskets.
Kowharawhara grows as an epiphyte, or perching plant, high in the branches of host trees. There are over 80 species of epiphytic plants in the Waitakere Ranges. This one gathers its own water with its v-shaped leaves and is home to a type of mosquito whose young can only develop in the water found in the plant.
The Kahikatea, or White Pine, is so named because of its pale-colored wood. It is dominant in swampy areas. Striking orange berries (koroi) appear on female trees only, and are popular with the tui and kaka birds, as well as eaten by Maoris. Kahikatea are New Zealand's tallest trees, growing 60 meters high.
Here are just 2 shots of the ferns I liked.
A close-up.
Part of my trip last weekend was to a rain forest which is also located on the west of Auckland, and included the Arataki Visitor Center.
The entrance is marked by this totem, known as a pou, which acts as a guardian of the Arataki visitor Center and surrounding areas. In depicting the ancestors of the Kawerau iwi, it is a reaffirmation of the Kawerau mana in the area. The ancestors are referred to top to bottom:
Tiriwa
Hape
Hoturoa
Maki
Te Kawerau a Maki
Te Hawiti
This is the Ponga, or Silver Fern, New Zealand's national emblem. The underside of the fronds would guide travelers via the moon reflection from the water, or side up as markers on tracks. Trunks of this tree fern are used for low retaining walls and living fences.
This is the Whau, or Corkwood NZ Mulberry. It has the lightest wood in the world. Maori used the wood to make fishing floats and marker buoys. The seed capsules are covered with spines. It is the only New Zealand plant with this kind of fruit.
Nikau is the most southern naturally growing palm in the world. The hard seeds are sometimes used by kiwi (the bird) as gizzard stones and early European settlers used them as ammunition. The large leaves were often used by Maori as thatching for houses and leaf strips were used for weaving baskets.
Kowharawhara grows as an epiphyte, or perching plant, high in the branches of host trees. There are over 80 species of epiphytic plants in the Waitakere Ranges. This one gathers its own water with its v-shaped leaves and is home to a type of mosquito whose young can only develop in the water found in the plant.
The Kahikatea, or White Pine, is so named because of its pale-colored wood. It is dominant in swampy areas. Striking orange berries (koroi) appear on female trees only, and are popular with the tui and kaka birds, as well as eaten by Maoris. Kahikatea are New Zealand's tallest trees, growing 60 meters high.
Here are just 2 shots of the ferns I liked.
A close-up.
posted by ~L~ @ 1:36 AM
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