ruahine
1. (verb) to become elderly, grow old - of a woman.
I a Te Puea ka ruahine haere, ka pupū ake te wehi o te rangatahi i a rātou e mātakitaki ana i a ia e whakahaere ana i ngā take a te marae (TTR 1996:52). / As Te Puea grew older the young ones were in awe of her while they were watching her directing the affairs of the marae.
3. (noun) woman of importance used in certain ceremonies for the removal of tapu, e.g. house openings - normally this would be the eldest female from a family of rank.
I te patunga i ngā tautīaki, me te paepae-tapu-nui-a-Tāne tae noa ki te pikitanga a te ruahine i te paepae-tapu-nui-a-Tāne; me te whakatuwheratanga o te tatau; me te pikitanga i te paepae poto a te ruahine: kāore i te eke ngā karakia e hāngai ai te piki i ngā paepae e rua me te whakatuwhera o te tatau (TTT 1/5/1930:2055). / From the striking of the upright posts beneath the front bargeboards of the meeting house and the sacred threshold of Tāne including the climbing over of the sacred threshold of Tāne by the ruahine; the opening of the door; the climbing over of the door sill by the ruahine; the ritual chants used were not appropriate for stepping over the two thresholds and the opening of the door.
