muka
1. (noun) prepared flax fibre.
He harakeke iraira, he mumura te kākāriki o ngā whā, he kōwhai ngā tāekaeka, he karaka ngā tapa me te tuaka, he mā, he mōhinuhinu te muka o tēnei harakeke (PK 2008:603). / A variegated flax, with bright green leaves, yellow stripes, orange edges and midrib, while the fibre of this flax is white and shiny.
2. used also of the ara, or by way of, by which an atua communicates with the medium.
raurākau
1. (noun) manono, kanono, large-leaved coprosma, Coprosma grandifolia - a small native shrub to 6 m tall of lowland forests with pale bark and leathery-large leaves which are olive-green and wavy-edged. Flowers are greenish-white, spindly, in loose clusters. Its reddish orange berries are attractive to birds. The bark is used for producing the yellow colouring when dyeing muka.
2. (noun) rangiora, Brachyglottis repanda - a small tree to 6 m tall with very large, dull green, soft leaves which are white and felted underneath and have wavy edges. Tiny fragrant flowers cover the tree during spring and early summer. Found in both the North and South Islands.
kohunga
1. (noun) superior variety of harakeke from Ngāti Maniapoto used for muka. Tall, rather droopy blue-green blades. Glaucous blue-green on underside. Black margin and keel. Many very tall flower heads with small seed pods. Used for the whenu in finest kākahu and for raranga and kete.
Ko te kohunga he harakeke roa, he raupeka ngā whā kānapanapa, he pango ngā tapa me te tuaka, he harakeke tino pai mō te whatu korowai (PK 2008:283). / Kohanga is a long New Zealand flax, the dark green leaves droop, the edges and spine are black and this is an excellent variety for weaving korowai cloaks.
atewheke
1. (noun) variety of harakeke from Taranaki suitable for stripping and raranga. Tall, bendy leaves. Interesting looking bush showing blades of several different shades. Some older ones quite yellow with black margins and keel. Young blades bronze with red veining on margins and keel. Good for whāriki and kete. Not suitable for muka.
2. (verb) (-a) to scrape clean, scrape - used especially with scraping flax for muka.
Tētahi mahi nui e taea e koutou ko te mahi hāro muka (TWM 28/10/1870:4). / One of the main activities that you are able to do is scraping flax.
Synonyms: pākēkē, waru, wani, harakuku, rakaraka, raraku, tīwani, honihoni, kauhoro, kowani, raku, tuakuku, okoi, rakuraku, weku, hākuku, whawharo, tahitahi, waruwaru, wharowharo, kaku, waku, wakuwaku
3. (verb) to be very low (of the tide).
4. (modifier) calm, smooth (of the sea).
5. (modifier) scraping.
E kōrerotia ana mea ake hangaia e te Pākehā he mira hāro muka i te taha ki Waikouaiti, i ō Ngāi Tahu (TWM 27/5/1869:6). / It is being said that a mill for scraping flax fibre will soon be built near Waikouaiti in Ngāi Tahu territory.
6. (noun) scraping.
Kei Wairau nei te tapahi witi me te patu anō; me te parau whenua, me te hāro muka (TWMNT 27/8/1873:104). / Here in Wairau there is reaping and threshing wheat, ploughing land and scraping flax fibre.
ngaro
1. (noun) variety of harakeke from the Moutoa swamp, Foxton. Very tall (up to 3 metres) and straight. Bush has dark, bronzy-green appearance. The young blades are a distinct bronze shade and are relieved by a scarlet line along the centre of the blades. Produces silky muka, but is also used for piupiu and kete. Ideal for whenu and aho in cloaks. Recognised last century as one of the best cultivars for milling. Strong, hard fibre, well suited for cordage.
2. (noun) mussel shell - used for separating the muka from the harakeke leaf.
3. (noun) barbed point (of a spear).
Ko te mākoi o tōna here he pounamu (W 1971:171). / The point of his spear was of greenstone.
4. (noun) pointed question.
Kāore te Minita e whakautu i ngā mākoi a Hoani Kemara. / The Minister would not answer the pointed questions of John Campbell.
5. (noun) comb.
See also heru
2. (noun) variety of harakeke from Hawke's Bay. Superior variety with strong, straight, short narrow blades tapering to a sharp point. Pale yellow-green leaves with bright orange keel and margins. Very fine, tall flower stalks. Muka variety and very good for kaitaka, whāriki, kete and piupiu.
Ka whenutia te tāroa hei whenu; ko te tāpoto, hei aho tēnā (W 1971:385). / The lesser quality flax is twisted as a warp strand; the superior quality flax, that's for the weft strand.
korowai
1. (noun) cloak ornamented with black twisted tags or thrums - the illustration is of the korowai, Te Whiringa Rongomaiwhiti, woven by Gloria Taituha of Ngāti Maniapoto. The feathers of the korowai are of pūkeko (dark blue) and kererū (white).
Ki te hunga ki tōna whakaaro e tika ana, makere noa ana i a ia te patu pounamu, te kete, te tāniko, te korowai, te tokotoko tae noa ki tana mako tautau, tēnei rā tētahi o āna tino taonga (TTR 1998:208). / He gave to visitors he thought worthy, greenstone clubs, flax baskets, tāniko weaving, korowai cloaks, walking sticks and even one of his priceless shark's-tooth ear pendants.
2. (noun) cloak - in modern Māori this is sometimes used as a general term for cloaks made of muka (New Zealand flax fibre).
He whero ngā huruhuru o te taha whakararo o ngā parirau o te kākā. Ka rangaa he korowai mō te tāngata whakahirahira i ēnei huruhuru (Te Ara 2014). / The feathers under the wings of kākā are red. These feathers were woven into cloaks for important people.
ngutunui
1. (noun) variety of harakeke from Ngāti Maniapoto. Short, bendy variety smudged with reddish shadings on sides and tips of blades. Overall bush has a yellow-bronze appearance particularly in the older leaves. Good for kete and whāriki if blades are long enough. Can produce good muka for whenu in kete, wall-hangings, etc. Said to be highly prized for making fine mats and cloaks.
2. (modifier) black, dark in colour.
He nui anō te whai rawa o te iwi kiri pango i te koura, i te hiriwa, i te peara me ngā kōhatu utu nui me te whenua (TPH 15/8/1900:2). / The blacks have great wealth in gold, silver, pearls and precious stones and land.
3. (noun) variety of harakeke from Tawatapu district, south of Gisborne. Short, bendy variety. Overall bush has a dark appearance. Rito blades are a bronze colour. Reddish-brown margin and keel. Brownish-purple kōrari. Flowers well. used for green kete harakeke. Not good for muka.
