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Story: Te ngahere – forest lore

Puawānanga flower

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Puawānanga flower

Puawānanga was said to be the child of the stars Puanga (Rigel in Orion) and Rehua (Antares in Scorpio). In some traditions, the appearance of Puanga signalled winter and Rehua summer – puawānanga trees flowered in the months between them.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10056882

by Dick Veitch

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Te ngahere – forest lore – Flowering plants, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14081/puawananga-flower (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 2 March 2009.