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TIME. 
These are regulated by the stars. The year begins with May, 
which is also the first winter month. 
1. May —The following stars are in the ascendant:—Kai-waka, 
Patu-tahi, Matariki, Puanga. 
2. June —Mata-riki, Tapuapua, Waka ahu-te-ra o Tainui. 
3. July —Waka-ahu-nuku, Waka-aliu-rangi, Waka-ahu-papa, Waka- 
ahu-kerekere, Kopu, and Tautoru. 
4. August —Taka-pou-poto, Mangere, Kaiwaka. The liar aka and the 
hou flower. Spring commences. The warauroa (a cuckoo) 
arrives. 
5. September —Takapou-tawahi. It begins to be warm; cultiva¬ 
tion commences. The kowai, kotukutuku, and rangiora flower. 
A rainy month. 
6. October —The kumara is planted. The windy month corresponds 
with our March; hence the saying, te ra kihi, the noisy or windy 
period, the tawera is ripe. The koekoea (a cuckoo) arrives. 
7. November —Te Wakumu. The rewarewa flowers. 
8. December —Nga Tapuae. The rata flowers. 
9. January —Uruao. Karaka is ripe.—Ranga whenua (an ancestor) 
rules the days, and Uruao(the star)rules the nights of this month. 
10. February —Rehua. The dry month—a scarce month. 
11. March —IS T ga hum. Harvest month for kumara. 
12. April —Te Kahui-rua-mahu. The days begin to he cold. The 
cuckoo leaves. 
Matariki is the great winter star, and Rehua that of summer. 
The arrival of the two birds of passage, the kohoperoa, or koekoea, 
and the pipiwarauroa, are the signs of summer. They are called the 
birds of Hawaiki, or warm country. 
The four seasons are— 
Ko Torn, ko Tahi, ko Takarua, August, September, October 
(spring). 
Raumati, November, December, January (summer). 
Nyahuru, February, March, April (autumn). 
llotoke, May, June, July (winter.) 
Raumati or summer takes its name from its being the season 
when the leaves of the forest fall. There is only one 
deciduous tree in New Zealand which sheds its leaves in 
winter, the Ko tuku tuku (Fuschia Excortica.) 
Jlotoke or winter is the season when the earth gives forth its 
worms, which were once eagerly sought after as food. 
