* Kiwifruit is a relatively new fruit in New Zealand: The kiwifruit, known as "Chinese gooseberry" at the time, was introduced to New Zealand in the early 1900s. It was only in the 1950s that the fruit gained popularity and was renamed "kiwifruit."
* Māori diet was based on native plants and animals: The traditional Māori diet consisted of foods like kumara (sweet potato), taro, fern root, birds, fish, and shellfish. There is no historical evidence suggesting they consumed kiwifruit before it was introduced.
However, it's possible that Māori might have used some parts of the kiwifruit vine for medicinal purposes, as they did with other plants. More research is needed to definitively confirm this, though.
It's important to remember that the relationship between Māori and the land is complex and goes beyond just food. While they might not have consumed kiwifruit in the same way we do today, they would have interacted with the plant in various ways, perhaps using its fibers for weaving or its leaves for medicinal purposes.