kowai bush

Farming locality near the junction of the Kowai and Wamakariri Rivers, central Canterbury, 6km north of Springfield.

Meaning of place name
Kowai is a South Island form of kowhai, the yellow-flowering native tree. As it happens the kowhai is not found in this locality, which has led some investigators to think the name is really Ko Wai: lit. rivers or water.

Images and media for kowai bush