"Kowai timber, thoroughly seasoned, used for fencing posts,
would stand for twelve or fourteen years; while posts cut out
of the same bush and used green would not last half the time."

1882. T. H. Potts, 'Out in the Open,' p. 146:

"The head of the straight-stemmed kowhai is already crowned
with racemes of golden blossoms."

1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand, p. 131:

"Kowhai--a small or middling-sized tree. . . . Wood red,
valuable for fencing, being highly durable . . . used for
piles in bridges, wharves, etc."

1884. T. Bracken, `Lays of Maori,' p. 21:

"The dazzling points of morning's lances
Waked the red kowhai's drops from sleep."

<hw>Kuku</hw>, or <hw>Kukupa</hw>, <i>n</i>. Maori name
for the New Zealand <i>Fruit-pigeon</i> (q.v.), <i>Carpophaga
novae-zelandiae</i>, Gmel. Called also <i>Kereru</i>.
The name is the bird's note.

1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand'
(Church Missionary Society), p. 170:

"Kuku, s. the cry of a pigeon."

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 406:

"Family <i>Columbidae</i>--kereru, kukupa (kuku, <i>Carpophaga
Novae Zealandiae</i>), the wood-pigeon. This is a very fine
large bird, the size of a duck; the upper part of the breast
green and gold, the lower a pure white, legs and bill red. It
is a heavy flying bird, and very stupid, which makes it an easy
prey to its enemies. The natives preserve large quantities in
calabashes, taking out the bones; these are called kuku."

Ibid. p. 183:

"The pigeon bears two names--the kuku and kukupa, which are
common to the isles."

1881. J. L. Campbell, `Poenamo,' p. 115:

"The kukupa . . . was just the bird created expressly for the
true cockney sportsman--the one after his heart . . . for if not
brought down by the first shot, why he only shakes his feathers
and calmly waits to be shot at again!"

1883. F. S. Renwick, `Betrayed,' p. 45:

"The kuku, plaintive, wakes to mourn her mate."

<hw>Kumara</hw>, or <hw>Kumera</hw>, <i>n</i>. (pronounced
Koomera), a Maori word for an edible root, the yam or sweet
potato, <i>Ipomaea batatas</i>, <i>N.O. Convolvulaceae</i>.
There are numerous varieties. It should be added that it is
doubtful whether it grows wild in New Zealand.

1773. Sydney Parkinson, `Journal of a Voyage to the South
Seas' (see extract in `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,'
`Manibus Parkinsonibus Sacrum,' W. Colenso, vol. x. art. ix.
p. 124):

"Several