THE POHUTUKAWA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 39, 11 January 1944, Page 5

THE POHUTUKAWA

USED FOR DECORATIONS MAORI LEGEND RECALLED The pohutukawa, flowering in December or January, is often called the Christmas tree by settlers _in New Zealand, who use it for decorations at that festival in place of the holly of the Homeland. It has been called the "most magnificent plant in the New Zealand flora." Its brilliant flowers and spreading, twisted branches make the. sheltered inlets and rugged coast-line a sight not easily forgot*

The pohutukawa rarely grows far from the sea or an inland, lake. It finds a foothold in all sorts of im-possible-looking places. Often it clings to the side of a cliff, and puts forth long twisted roots that attach It to the rocky Avail. Specimens may frequently be found hanging from the top of a bank, with the roots above, and the branches, almost dipping into the sea below. Oysters may sometimes be seen clinging to these pendent brandies. The tree, a very handsome one, .sometimes grows to a height of 70ft with spreading branches. Maori Legend! Surely it Avas some vague. perception of its fantastic shape and ocean loving nature that led the Maoris to think that a bough of Pohutukaw.a was, the. last earthly hand-hold ol' the .spirit Avhen it leapt oil' from the world aboA-e into Reinga (the imdenvorld). For it was believed by them that the ghosts of the dead travelled northward along the mountain ranges: until they came to the ridge of ''wild, rocks" running out to set ki the extreme north, known as Cape Reinga. Passing along this to the. very extremity of the land, they came at last to the'giant PohutukaAva, Avith a great limb overhanging the rocks of the ocean. To this branch the spirits hung for some time, reluctant to leave the upper world... At length through a seaweed fringed cavern they plunged into the gloomy realms.