pronounced raywa, Maoriname for the New Zealand tree Knightia excelsa, R. Br., N.O. Proteaceae, the Honey-suckle of the New Zealandsettlers. Maori verb, rewa, to float. The seed-vesselis just like a Maori canoe.
1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand, the Britain of theSouth,' vol. i. p. 143:
«Rewarewa (honeysuckle), a handsome flowering tree common onthe outskirts of the forests. Wood light and free-working: thegrain handsomely flowered like the Baltic oak.»
1878. R. C. Barstow, `On the Maori Canoe,' `Transactionsof the New Zealand Institute,' vol. xi. art. iv. p. 73:
«Dry rewarewa wood was used for the charring.»
1880. W. Colenso, `Traditions of the Maoris,' `Transactionsof New Zealand Institute,' vol. xiii. p. 53:
«The boy went into the forest, and brought back with him aseed-pod of the rewarewa tree ( Knightia excelsa). . . .He made his way to his canoe, which was made like the pod ofthe rewarewa tree.»
1983. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand,' p. 129:
«Rewarewa, a lofty, slender tree, 100 feet high. Woodhandsome, mottled red and brown, used for furniture andshingles, and for fencing, as it splits easily. It is a mostvaluable veneering wood.»