Torie's new New Zealand nickname is Toi Toi. One of her many nicknames is Toe Toe and that is pronounced Toi Toi in the native language of Maori. That and the color of the native New Zealand plant is the color of Torie's hair. The non-native pampass grass is whiter in color.



Toi Toi (pronounced as 'toy toy') is the Maori word for a plant (spelled toe toe) that is native to New Zealand.

Toi Toi is a common spelling for this grass, though Toe Toe is preferred by botanists. They are both Maori words, and both sound the same!

There are four similar species (Cortaderia toetoe, Cortaderia fulvida, Cortaderia splendens and Cortaderia richardii) found in different areas in New Zealand. They are all closely related to that undesirable introduced Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana or Cortaderia jubata). The plant commonly seen and referred to as toi toi by 95% of New Zealand is in fact an exotic pampas grass which comes from South America.