Ngaa ingoa Maaori moo ngaa Whare oo Puni School

House names

Kauri: THE MIGHTY KAURI TREE

The Kauri tree is New Zealand’s largest and most famous native tree. The kauri is a type of conifer or pine tree which grows in the subtropical northern part of the North Island.

The largest kauri in existence is Taane Mahuta (Maaori for 'Lord of the Forest'). The kauri is strong and stands tall with good solid foundations. Ancestors of the kauri are among the most ancient in the world.

Koowhai: THE NURTURING & RESOURCEFUL KOOWHAI TREE

The koowhai is one of the best known native trees in New Zealand. They are best known for their brilliant yellow flowers that appear in profusion in Spring and stand out among the forest greenery. Native birds such as the tui, bellbird, kaakaa and kereruu all benefit from koowhai trees. Maaori used koowhai’s attractive, hard and durable wood for paddles and adzes. They made poultices from the bark and applied them to wounds. The koowhai’s flowering in early spring told Maaori it was time to plant kuumara.

Karaka: THE NOURISHING KARAKA TREE

This evergreen tree is a popular place for smaller birds to sleep in during the winter. It is of great value to birds and other fauna, including invertebrates that feed on their fruits and disperse their seeds. The ability to bear fruit in winter gives this plant a very important ecological value, being a good food source for many species, especially birds, at a time when resources are scarce.

Poohutukawa:  THE BRAVE POOHUTUKAWA TREE

The poohutukawa tree with its crimson flower has become an established part of the New Zealand Christmas tradition. It produces a brilliant display of red flowers made up of a mass of stamens. Renowned for its vibrant colour and its ability to survive even perched on rocky, precarious cliffs, it has found an important place in New Zealand culture for its strength and beauty and is regarded as a chiefly tree (raakau rangatira) by Maaori. The blossom of the tree is called kahika.