NOTE - THIS PROTO-PAGE IS STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION!

This name is shared by Rarotongan and New Zealand Mäori, and in each language refers uniquely to a species of Coprosma. The New Zealand species, C. repens, is a very resilient tree or shrub occuring naturally in a wide variety of habitats in the North Island and the northern part of the South Island (see the pages for Naupata and Mämängi - links in the panel opposite - for more information about this plant and its alternative names.)

Coprosma laevigata is endemic to the Cook Islands, where it also was widely distributed in Rarotonga but it is now "moderately endangered". It is a shrub which grows to about 4 metres high. Its closest relative among the coprosmas is a species endemic to the Kermadec Islands, C. acutifolia. See the Bishop Museum's Cook Island plant database (link below) for further information about the Rarotonga coprosma.