Kaiwaka
1. (personal name) a star, possibly Kaus Astralis, which appears in late winter and heralds the beginning of the lunar month of Kohitātea (January) or Hakihea (December).
Mō te marama o Hānuere, arā o Kaitātea, o te tau 1923, ko Kaiwaka te whetū kei te ārahi i ēnei pō (TTT 1/1/1923:9). / For the month of January, that is Kaitātea, of 1923, Kaiwaka is the star that heralds these nights.
2. (noun) karapapa, Alseuosmia macrophylla - a shrub found in forest undergrowth from North Cape to the upper South Island that grows to about 2 m, with red-brown branches and dark green foliage. It has alternating glossy leaves with widely spaced teeth. The tubular flowers are 2.4-4 cm long and highly scented. They vary in colour from dark red to cream. Fruit is crimson.
See also karapapa
3. (noun) Alseuosmia banksii var. linariifolia - endemic bushy slender shrub up to 1 m tall of Northland forests from Kaitaia to about Kaiwaka. Often associated with kauri. Leaves vary, much longer than wide, green, margin smooth. Small creamy yellow flowers, tubular, dropping in September - December. Fruit fleshy, red.
