The natives, who delight in a wag, emphatically pronounced him "maitai."

Kererū is the only bird species that helps disperse seeds of native canopy trees, like tawa and maitai.

Snatching the cup from my hands, he shouted out, "Ah, karhowree sabbee lee-lee ena arva tee maitai!"

They invariably sided with us; flying out against the consul, and denouncing him as "Ita maitai nuee," or very bad exceedingly.

It also had a well established water supply through the Maitai Dam.

The Maitai Recreation Hub was prioritised in the council's Long Term Plan.

Sam Wicks speaks to Greg, Otis, and Andrew Maitai of Power Tool Records.

Kylie McDowell is a camp ranger working for DOC at the Maitai campsite.

In fact it's endemic to the Maitai Cave in Maitai Valley in Nelson.

Both are released on Auckland based Indie label Powertool Records run by Andrew Maitai.

Friends of the Maitai spokesperson Jacquetta Bell was one of its most staunch advocates.

Conservation group Friends of the Maitai said it sets a precedent for change in the area.

Friends of the Maitai has been recognised nationally for its work in cleaning up the river.

The natives listened attentively, and signified their sense of Rokóa's eloquence by frequent exclamations of 'Maitai!

Conservation group Friends of the Maitai is already driving a social media campaign against the proposed development.

There are thousands of people who use the Maitai every year - it's a sacred place for recreation.