1. (noun) tall spike sedge, great spike rush, bamboo spike-sedge, Eleocharis sphacelata - a rush growing to about 1 m which spreads from a creeping rhizome and has thick hollow stems of bright green. Found throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand in swamps and on lake edges and is often partially submerged. The soft, flattened, hollow stalks (culms) of kuta are a popular resource for weavers. The long culms are harvested, placed under matting for about 3 days to flatten, then woven into soft hats, mats, and kete. Kuta dries to an attractive golden-brown shade.

1. (stative) be an open plain, levelled.

1. (noun) tufts of sedge, Carex secta - a sedge which grows in raised tufts. Common in swampy areas throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand. Grows up to 1 m tall, with weeping, yellowish-green leaves.

1. (noun) umbrella sedge, Cyperus eragrostis - tufted leafy sedge, with triangular stems up to 90 cm tall, leaves arranged in threes, with a group of 5 to 7 green round flowerheads, each made up of broad flattened flower spikes, with 5 to 8 long grass-like leaves immediately under this, at the end of flower stalk. Scattered throughout both islands, locally abundant in wet areas such as the banks of rivers and streams, swamps and ditches.

1. (noun) hook sedge, hook grass, bastard grass, Uncinia uncinata - a grasslike hooked sedge native to Aotearoa/New Zealand, the Society Islands, and Hawai‘i. Its natural habitat is from the coast up to 1000 metres, and is found in areas ranging from native forest to shrubland. Forms dense mounds of orange-red, or green, arching leaves about 50 cm high.

1. (noun) hook sedge, hook grass, bastard grass, Uncinia uncinata - a grasslike hooked sedge native to Aotearoa/New Zealand, the Society Islands, and Hawai‘i. Its natural habitat is from the coast up to 1000 metres, and is found in areas ranging from native forest to shrubland. Forms dense mounds of orange-red, or green, arching leaves about 50 cm high.

1. (noun) New Zealand dotterel, Charadrius obscurus - a squat bird with a large head, robust bill and rusty orange chest in breeding birds. Found on beaches, river mouths and estuaries.

1. (noun) fish hook.

1. (noun) great spike rush, bamboo spike-sedge, Eleocharis sphacelata - a rush growing to about 1 m which spreads from a creeping rhizome and has thick hollow stems of bright green. Found throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand in swamps and on lake edges and is often partially submerged. The soft, flattened, hollow stalks (culms) of kuta are a popular resource for weavers. The long culms are harvested, placed under matting for about 3 days to flatten, then woven into soft hats, mats, and kete. Kuta dries to an attractive golden-brown shade.

1. (stative) be golden-yellow.

1. (noun) giant umbrella sedge, Cyperus ustulatus - a native plant with grass-like, broad, folded, hard, glossy leaves spreading from the top of the tall, unjointed, triangular stem. Has shiny, dark brown seed heads and is found along wet, sandy edges of tidal streams and rivers.

1. (noun) great spike rush, bamboo spike-sedge, Eleocharis sphacelata - a rush growing to about 1 m which spreads from a creeping rhizome and has thick hollow stems of bright green. Found throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand in swamps and on lake edges and is often partially submerged. The soft, flattened, hollow stalks (culms) of kuta are a popular resource for weavers. The long culms are harvested, placed under matting for about 3 days to flatten, then woven into soft hats, mats, and kete. Kuta dries to an attractive golden-brown shade.

1. (verb) to rattle, jingle (as with keys), gurgle.

1. (noun) cutty grass, Gahnia lacera - a sedge found from North Cape to Whanganui. Grows 60 cm-1.5 m tall with wide yellowish green leaves that have a sharp cutting edge. Short flowering stems are stiff, and the panicles are followed by shiny black fruit.

1. (noun) cutty grass, Gahnia lacera - a sedge found from North Cape to Whanganui. Grows 60 cm-1.5 m tall with wide yellowish green leaves that have a sharp cutting edge. Short flowering stems are stiff, and the panicles are followed by shiny black fruit.

1. (noun) cutty grass, Gahnia lacera - a sedge found from North Cape to Whanganui. Grows 60 cm-1.5 m tall with wide yellowish green leaves that have a sharp cutting edge. Short flowering stems are stiff, and the panicles are followed by shiny black fruit.

1. (noun) giant umbrella sedge, Cyperus ustulatus - a native plant with grass-like, broad, folded, hard, glossy leaves spreading from the top of the tall, unjointed, triangular stem. Has shiny, dark brown seed heads and is found along wet, sandy edges of tidal streams and rivers.

1. (noun) lake club-rush, soft-stem bulrush, true bulrush, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Schoenoplectus validus - a tall, spiky, sedge found in shallow, freshwater and estuarine habitats. It can grow in more brackish habitats than kuta, and is found on the margins of rivers, lakes and ponds up to 300 m above sea level. Growth is seasonal with stems dying back over winter. Harvested in summer, the stems are hung in bundles and dried. The stems contain white spongy pith, which gives some insulation when used to make sleeping mats. Found throughout the North Island. In the South Island it is found in southern Nelson, Marlborough and Westland, as well as at Christchurch and in and near Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere.

1. (verb) to be blistered.

1. (noun) lake club-rush, soft-stem bulrush, true bulrush, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Schoenoplectus validus - a tall, spiky, sedge found in shallow, freshwater and estuarine habitats. It can grow in more brackish habitats than kuta, and is found on the margins of rivers, lakes and ponds up to 300 m above sea level. Growth is seasonal with stems dying back over winter. Harvested in summer, the stems are hung in bundles and dried. The stems contain white spongy pith, which gives some insulation when used to make sleeping mats. Found throughout the North Island. In the South Island it is found in southern Nelson, Marlborough and Westland, as well as at Christchurch and in and near Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere.