It is said that to Kowhai sprung from the shreds of the cloak of tohunga Ngatoro-I-rangi of the Te Arawa canoe on its arrival to New Zealand.

Te Arawa tells of a young tohunga asking a girl to marry him while they were sitting under the bare branches of a Kowhai tree in the month of August. She replied that she would only marry if he could perform some brilliant act. The young tohunga said "I will show you what I can do. I will cause this tree to spring instantly into flower before your eyes". Then he used all his powers and made the tree burst into yellow bloom. His final touch caused a ring of yellow blossoms to appear around the dark hair of the girl. Ever since, say Te Arawa, the Kowhai has flowered on bare and leafless branches. Kua ura te ao te kowhai - The kindling of Kowhai blazes