Maori name for a New Zealandtree, Podocarpus dacrydioides, A. Rich., N.O. Coniferae. Also called White-Pine.See Pine. The settlers' pronunciation is often Kackatea. There is a Maori word Kahika, meaningancient.
1855. Rev. R. Taylor. `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 439:
«White-pine, Podocarpus dacrydioides – – Kahikatea, kahika,korol. This tree is generally called the white-pine, from thecolour of its wood. The kahikatea may be considered as nearlythe loftiest tree in the New Zealand forest; it often attains aheight of little less than two hundred feet, and in thatrespect rivals the noble kauri, but the general appearance isnot very pleasing.»
1875. T. Laslett, `Timber and Trees,' p. 304:
«The kahikatea or kakaterra-tree ( Dacrydium excelsum or taxifolium). This majestic and noble-looking treebelongs to the natural order of Taxaceae, more commonlyknown by the name of Joint Firs. Height 150 to 180 feet,rising sixty feet and upward without a branch.»
1876: W. Blair, `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,'vol. ix. art. 10, p. 160:
«This timber is known in all the provinces, except Otago, bythe native name of `kahikatea'. I think we should adopt italso, not only on account of being more euphonious, but forthe reason that so many timbers in other parts of the worldare called white-pine.»
1873. `Appendix to Journal of House of Representatives,'vol. iii. G. 7, p. 11:
«On the purchased land stands, or lately stood, a smallkahikatea bush. . . . The wood appears to have been of nogreat money value, but the natives living in Tareha's padepended upon it for their supply of fire-wood.»
1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand, p. 124:
[It is Sir James Hector who assigns the tree to Coniferae, not Taxaceae.]
1888. Cassell's' Picturesque Australasia,' vol. iii. p. 210:
«The White Pine or kahikatea is a very beautiful tree, anddroops its dark feathery foliage in a way which recalls thegraceful branches of the English elm-tree.»