Austral English Part 128

"Kiki ... food." [The i has the English not the Italian sound.]

1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand'

(Church Missionary Society), p. 157:

"Kai, s. victuals, support, etc.; a. eatable."

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i.

p. 29:

"He explained to us that every one would cry very much, and then there would be very much kai-kai or feasting."

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 95:

"Kai, the general word for food, is not used at Rotorua, because it was the name of a great chief, and the word tami has been subst.i.tuted for it."

1895. Louis Becke and J. D. Fitzgerald, `The Maori in Politics,' `Review of Reviews,' June 20, p. 621:

"We saw some thirty men and women coming towards us, singing in chorus and keeping step to the music. In their hands they carried small baskets woven of raupo reeds, containing kai, or food. This was the `kai' dance."

Kainga, and Kaika, n. now generally kaik, and p.r.o.nounced kike, a Maori settlement, village. Kainga is used in the North, and is the original form; Kaika is the South Island use. It is the village for dwelling; the pa is for fighting in.

1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand'

(Church Missionary Society), p. 157:

"Kainga. A place of residence, a home," etc.

1873. Lt.-Colonel St. John, `Pakeha Rambles through Maori Lands,' p. 164 [Heading of Chapter x.]:

"How we live in our kainga."

1896. `Otago Witness,' Jan. 23, p. 50, col. 5:

"A cosy-looking kainga located on the bank of a picturesque bend of the river."

Ibid. p. 52, col. 1:

"We steamed on slowly towards Tawhitinui, a small kainga or kaik, as it is called in the South island."

1884. `Maoriland,' p. 84:

"The drive may be continued from Portobello to the Maori kaik."

Kaio, n. popular corruption in the South Island of New Zealand of Ngaio (q.v.).

Kaitaka, n. Maori word for the best kind of native mat.

1835. W. Yate, `Account of New Zealand,' p. 157:

"Requiring from three to four months' close sitting to complete one of their kaitakas--the finest sort of mat which they make. This garment has a very silky appearance."

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i.

p. 244:

"Pukaro ended by flinging over my shoulders a very handsome kaitaka mat, which he had been wearing while he spoke."

1881. J. L. Campbell, `Poenamo,' p. 205:

"Highly prized and beautiful kaitaka mats."

Kaiwhiria, n. Maori name for New Zealand tree, Hedycarya dentata, Forst., N.O. Monimiaceae.

Porokaiwhiri is the fuller name of the tree.

1883. /J./ Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand,' p. 129

"Kaiwhiria, a small evergreen tree, twenty to thirty feet high; the wood is finely marked and suitable for veneering."

Kaka, n. the Maori name for a parrot. The word is imitative of a parrot's cry. It is now always used to denote the Brown Parrot of New Zealand, Nestor meridionalis, Gmel.

1835. W. Yate, `Account of New Zealand,' p. 54:

"Kaka--a bird of the parrot kind; much larger than any other New Zealand parrot."

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i.

p. 259:

"The kaka, a large russet parrot, of excellent flavour, and very abundant in many places."

1851. Mrs. Wilson, `New Zealand,' p. 40:

"The bright red feathers from under the wing of the kaka or large parrot."

1854. W. Golder, `Pigeons' Parliament,' [Notes] p. 79:

"The kaka is a kind of parrot of a reddish grey colour, and is easily tamed when taken young."

1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 93:

"The hoa.r.s.e croak of the ka-ka, as it alighted almost at our feet, and prepared, quite careless of our vicinity, to tear up the loose soil at the root of a tall tree, in search of grubs."

1869. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' (Supplement):

"Nestor hypopolius, ka-ka parrot."

1884. T. Bracken, `Lays of Maori,' p. 38:

"I heard mocking kakas wail and cry above thy corse."

1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 150: