Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

houhi, houhi puruhi (Williams 1971) 

Small leaf: hūngere

narrow-leaved lacebark

The bark can be scraped, dried, beaten in to material suitable for making cloaks, kete, poi balls, belts, head adornments, piupiu. Belts sometimes made of houi, but more commonly of whītau "One of my informants deplored the fact that houi (ribbonwood) was now so scarce that the New Zealand Government would not permit "Tihore te rakau" (barking the trees). The bark ... was not dyed in olden days but is coloured now to make fancy articles for modern use on a small scale." Southern informants recorded by Beattie in 1920. (Beattie 1994)

For uses see Hoheria populnea