MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1940, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

THE PUKEKO. (Recorded by J.H.S., or Palmerston North, for The “Times-Age.”) Fukeko —in colour one of the most beautiful birds in this land of many; but in shape the Great Architect considers utility before appearance, so its long legs out of proportion to its size enable it to make a living. The back and neck are of shining dark blue, with white under the tail to guide its chicks when leading the way to safety, while the beak and legs are red. Like the parrot, it holds its food in the claw when eating. Illustrative of the difficulty of translating Maori words through our habit of joining two or more together, Sir James Carrol told a story at Bellamys in which the victim of the joke joined the laughter—“ When the Hon. Wm. Massey came to live at Puke Kohe he asked a Maori its meaning. With their quaint humour, trie reply was Fukeko he (wicked Pukeko), and this convinced the Prime Minister of its profanity,” The Tieki named after the jet black Maori shoulder mat, is a cheerful chatterer, moving swiftly in search of berries and insects. It is a dark blue black with a chestnut perfectly shaped saddle across the back, hence the name “Saddle back.” In camps and at picnics it shared our meals, so soon became scarce, and is on the way to becoming extinct. Toitoi (quick or little) Brown Creeper. with dark red patches is another friendly bird.