Editing Kōwhai (section)

==Traditional Māori use==
Traditionally the [[Māori people|Māori]] used the flexible branches as a construction material in their houses and to [[snare trap|snare]] birds. The kōwhai flowers were a source of yellow dye. The blooming of kōwhai flowers late winter and early spring was used as a seasonal indicator as a time to plant [[Sweet potato cultivation in Polynesia|kūmara (sweet potato)]], and to begin harvesting [[Evechinus chloroticus|kina (sea urchins)]].<ref name="terrain">{{cite web|title=Sophora microphylla (Kowhai)|url=http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/table-1/kowhia.html|access-date=31 August 2012|publisher=Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network|archive-date=25 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825191009/http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/table-1/kowhia.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="MeaningTrees"/>

Kōwhai are an important tree for [[rongoā]] (traditional medicine practices) for many [[iwi]], particularly bark used to create an infusion known as ''wai kōwhai''.<ref name="MeaningTrees"/> The bark was heated in a [[calabash]] with hot stones, and made into a poultice to treat wounds or rubbed on a sore back<ref name="TeAraRongoa">{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/rongoa-medicinal-use-of-plants/4 |title=Rongoā – medicinal use of plants – Other medicinal plants |last1=Jones |first1=Rhys|date=2 March 2009 |encyclopedia=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=8 November 2010}}</ref> or made into an infusion to treat bruising or muscular pains.<ref name="Durie">{{cite journal |last1=Durie  |first1=Sir Mason |date=June 2010 |title=Te whakahaumanutanga me te oranga hinengaro o mua – Ka mātaia ngā huanga o te rongoā – Traditional healing and mental health: measuring the effectiveness of rongoā |journal=Best Practice Journal |publisher=Best Practice Advocacy Centre |issue=28 |pages=5–7 |url=http://www.bpac.org.nz/magazine/2010/june/docs/BPJ_28_rongoa_pages5-7.pdf }}</ref> If someone was bitten by a seal, an infusion was prepared from kōwhai and applied to the wounds and the patient was said to recover within days.<ref name="TeAraRongoa"/>

Additionally, wedges made of kōwhai stem were used to split wood, it was used for fences and in whare (Māori hut) construction, implements and weapons.<ref>Kowhai • Tāne's Tree Trust (tanestrees.org.nz)</ref> 

The currently dispersal of kōwhai around New Zealand likely represents deliberate plantings by Māori, such as [[Te Āti Awa]] bringing [[Taranaki]] species of kōwhai to [[Wellington]] when some members of the iwi migrated to the area.<ref name="MeaningTrees"/>