“Ka kitea i tēnei whakataukī te mātauranga nui o ngā tūpuna ki te taiao, ināhoki ki te rākau tītoki, tēnā ka puāwai anake i te wā ka pai katoa te āhuarangi. He mea mātakitaki nā ngā tūpuna me te aha ka meatia te kupu nei hei poroaki tangata”.

This proverb illustrates the intimate knowledge of the environment, specifically in this instance the Tītoki tree which only bloomed when the climate was right.