2. (noun) storm, squall, heat.
He hau tino kino te pōkākā, engari mō tētahi wā poto. / The pōkākā is a strong wind but is short-lived.
3. (noun) pōkākā, Elaeocarpus hookerianus - a canopy tree found in lowland to montane forest with a trubk up to 1 m diameter. This tree has a distinct juvenile form which has twisted, interlacing branches with scattered narrow oval leaves (5cm x 6mm), the leaves have saw like teeth on the margins. Adult leaves are narrow-oblong (3-11cm x 1-3cm) are leathery and have a prominent mid vein and blunt serrations on the margins. Little pale yellow flowers. The fruit is a purplish oval drupe about 8mm long. Greyish white bark.
I a rātau e kimi ana i te āhua o ia tū rākau, o ia tū otaota o rō ngahere, o te pākihi, o rō o ngā awaawa ka tūpono rātau ki te kōrau, ki te pūhā, ki te aruhe, ki te pikopiko, ki te mataī, ki te kahika, ki te tutu-papa, ki te kāuka, ki te mamaku, ki te kōnini, ki te poniu, ki te aka kōareare, ki te whīnau, ki te pōkākā, ki te kiekie (JPS 1928:179). / While they were engaged in seeking to ascertain the nature of each kind of tree and plant of the forest, the open country, and in the valleys, they came upon the kōrau, edible herbs, fern root, young fronds of the common shield fern, berries of mataī, white pine, tutu-papa, cabbage tree, black tree-fern, the fuchsia, poniu, raupō roots, whīnau, pōkākā and kiekie.
Synonyms: whīnau puka
