I favor the following explanation: The difficulty in interpreting the name of the canoe of the explorers arises from the name segment oraora. To begin with, the compound form oraora ngaru should be analyzed in comparison with other Polynesian compounds, such as MAO. pare-ngaru 'that which fends off the waves' (i.e., the hull of the boat), TAH. tere-'aru 'that which moves through the waves' (i.e., riding the waves on a board).

There are several possible translations for oraora as the reduplication of ora. Te Oraora Miro can be translated as 'the pieces of wood, tightly lashed together' (compare TAH. oraora 'to set close together, to fit parts of a canoe') and be taken to refer to the method of construction of the explorer canoe, while Oraora Ngaru means 'that which parts the water like a wedge', or 'that which saves (one) from the waves, that which is stronger that the waves'." (Barthel 2, p. 67)

Strangely, Barthel does not mention the preceding when he later on summarizes the information about the names of the immigrant canoes:

"Routledge's informants still knew the names of the immigrant canoes (RM:278); they were given as Oteka and Oua.

One Rongorongo text shows ua as the term used for two canoes, while RR:76 (phallus grapheme ure, used in this case for an old synonym teka; compare TUA. teka 'penis of a turtle'. HAW. ke'a 'virile male') tends to confirm the oral tradition with a transpositional variant (Barthel 1962:134)." (Barthel 2, p. 161)

Te Oraora Miro (The Living Wood) is, I think, a perfect name for the concept I have suggested is conveyed by the tao glyph type.