It also inhabited forests dominated by podocarps (rimu, matai, kahikatea, totara), beeches, tawa, and rata. Banks Peninsula totara and matai timber were used for the roof supports. The forest is thick with trees such as rimu, totara, silver beech, matai and kahikatea. Only Samoans with chief "matai" titles are eligible to become Members of Parliament. The head of the 'aiga is the matai. The "matai", or chief, is the head of the aiga. The Samoan appellation for a male person who is not a "matai" is a "taule'ale'a". His five disciples, named Matai, Nekai, Netzer, Buni, and Todah are then tried. His five disciples, named Matai, Nekai, Netzer, Buni, and Todah, are then tried. The authority of the "matai" has some limits. The decision of one or more "matai sili" (senior "matai") is decisive. The wife of a "tulafale" (orator status "matai") is referred to as "tausi". It is nowadays applied to any male person who is not a "matai". The role of a "matai" is a very large and important one. Men and women both have equal rights to the matai title.