Sure enough, New Zealand has a tree with the common name ironwood (although that name is seldom used, it's normally called maire). Interestingly, it's a relative of the black ironwood of Africa.
No, but it's possible that the wood of pukatea sinks, because there's a Māori proverb which goes: Ka haere te tōtara haemata, ka takoto te pukatea wai nui. (The tōtara floats, while the pukatea lies in deep water). Apparently it's a reference to the idea that young people move around while older people are more settled, but proverbs are also one way of recording observations of the natural world.
Also in reference to maire, a determined person is described as: E, ko te matakahi maire. (Like a wedge of maire). I suspect the proverb also illustrates that if you needed a wedge of wood for some purpose, maire was a good choice.
Sure enough, New Zealand has a tree with the common name ironwood (although that name is seldom used, it's normally called maire). Interestingly, it's a relative of the black ironwood of Africa.
I noticed quite a few Ironwood varieties in Australia too. Do you know if yours sinks?
No, but it's possible that the wood of pukatea sinks, because there's a Māori proverb which goes: Ka haere te tōtara haemata, ka takoto te pukatea wai nui. (The tōtara floats, while the pukatea lies in deep water). Apparently it's a reference to the idea that young people move around while older people are more settled, but proverbs are also one way of recording observations of the natural world.
Also in reference to maire, a determined person is described as: E, ko te matakahi maire. (Like a wedge of maire). I suspect the proverb also illustrates that if you needed a wedge of wood for some purpose, maire was a good choice.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/te-waonui-a-tane-forest-mythology/page-5