Maori name for a fish, Oligorusgigas, Gunth., called later Polyprion prognathus(see quotation, 1895), pronounced hapuka, frequentlycorrupted into habuka, the Groper (q.v.). It isvariously called a Cod, a Perch and a Sea-Perch. See quotations.
1845 (about). `New Plymouth's National Song,' Hursthouse's`New Zealand,' p 217:
«Lowing herds on every side,
Hapuka in every tide.»
1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui, p. 411:
«Hapuku, or whapuku, commonly called the cod, but a much richerfish in flavour: externally it more resembles the salmon, andis known in New Holland as the dew or Jew-fish. It attainsa large size and is considered the best fish of New Zealand.»
1862. Anon., `From the Black Rocks on Friday,' `All the YearRound,' May 17, 1862, No. 160:
«A kind of codfish called by the natives whapuku or hahpuka.»
1878. P. Thomson, `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,'vol. XI. art. lii. p. 383:
«The hapuka, or groper, was in pretty regular supply.»
1880. Guenther, `Study of Fishes,' p. 392:
«The second (Oligorus gigas) is found in the sea, on the coastof New Zealand, and called by the Maoris and colonists `Hapuku'. . . Dr. Hector, who has had opportunities of examining it ina fresh state, has pointed out anatomical differences from theMurray Cod.»
1880. W. Colenso, `Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,'vol. XIII. art. ii. p. 46:
«A feast of good things prepared – – eels, and hapuku (codfish),and taro.»
1884. W. D. Hay, in the `Field,' May 10, p. 637, col. 1:
«The pakirikiri( Percis colias) is the fish to whichsettlers in the north of New Zealand generally give the name ofwhapuka.»
1895. `Oxford English Dictionary' (s.v.Cod):
«In New Zealand, a serranoid fish Polyprion prognathus,called by the Maories hapuku.»