Here's why:
* Maori language is rich in descriptive terms. Rather than a single word, they might use descriptive phrases like:
* "Te ra o te tāwhiri" (meaning "the sun of the welcoming" or "the welcoming sun"), referencing the sun-like appearance of the flower.
* "Te pua o te rā" (meaning "the flower of the sun"), again highlighting the solar connection.
* Sunflowers were introduced to New Zealand. Before European contact, sunflowers weren't native to Aotearoa (New Zealand). This means a specific Maori word for "sunflower" wouldn't have developed organically.
If you want to refer to a sunflower in Maori, using a descriptive phrase like "Te ra o te tāwhiri" would be accurate and evocative.