2. (noun) water fern, Histiopteris incisa - creeping native ground fern. Young fronds a distinctive pea green, and lobed like an oak leaf. It grows in moist clearings, edges of forest and along stream banks.
3. (noun) ring fern, Paesia scaberula - creeping native ground fern. Its fine, lacy, yellowish-green fronds are often sticky, with zigzag chestnut-brown stalks and have a distinctive smell. Common on cleared, sunny ground.
4. (noun) pink maomao, Caprodon longimanus - uniformly pink fish with red-orange on the head and pectoral fins edged with pale blue. Body narrow and elongated with a deeply forked tail and long pectoral fins.
Synonyms: mātā
matata
1. (verb) to be split, open, gape.
Kua matata te kakau o te toki (W 1971:191). / The handle of the axe has split.
Synonyms: marake, pūaha, tuwhera, māhorahora, matatea, tīwhera, areare, kohera, tuhera, wātea, whakaareare, whakapuare, whewhera, uaki, mawhera, koraha, mārakerake, kohea, ango, puare, tīwara, tūmatanui, pawhera, hemahema, whakatuwhera, whakatuhera, huaki, poare, hīrikore, are, pōaha, puakaha, raha, tūraha, tawhera
2. (verb) to open.
Ka mea a Hā ka mate ia; ka whakahua ia i tana kupu, "Te kōwhatu nei, ē, matiti, matata!" Kua matata, kua ngaro ia (NM 1928:83). / Hatupatu thought he would die, so he recited his words, "This rock, split open!" It opened and he disappeared into it.
3. (noun) crevice, chink, split.
Ka whati ngā ngārara ki roto ki ngā tauwhare oneone, ki ngā matata oneone, ki ngā tarutaru (TWMNT 22/8/1976:202). / The insects fled into the overhanging banks and crevices and cracks in the earth and the small vegetation and grass.
mātātā
1. (noun) New Zealand gloxinia, Rhabdothamnus solandri - a small tangled native shrub with hairy leaves with rounded teeth and dark main veins. Found in shady lowland areas of the North Island. The bell-like flowers are yellow to orange with red stripes and occur throughout the year.
See also taurepo
Synonyms: taurepo, kaikaiatua, waiū atua
