2. (verb) to earth up (in cultivation), loosen the soil.
E karanga tonu ana tēnei whakataukī kia ngāwari te tangata ki te kō; kia ngāwari ki te rui, ki te whakatō; kia ngāwari ki te tokitoki; kia ngāwari ki te hauhake (KO 15/9/1883:1). / This whakataukī is calling for people to dig gently; to sow and plant gently; to earth up the soil gently; and to harvest gently.
3. (noun) tītoki, Alectryon excelsus - common on river flats this tree has alternating, almost opposite leaves in four to six pairs, mostly without teeth. Flowers have no petals. Small seed capsules are brownish and hairy but open to reveal the large, black, glossy seeds and striking scarlet surrounds.
See also tītoki
