KOE KOE Ā
Left to right: Bailey Hōhaia, Garry Almond, Kapohau Matiu-Wharepapa, Una Stephens, Willy Cameron, Tātana Moko, Renee Thomas, Karla Bradley, Tamu Mausii, Norman Petereit, Manaia Rāpata. Photo: Virginia Woolf
Karioi
CONNECTING TO W H E N UA
DI A N N E B ROW N, K AIH ĀPAI (PRO G RAM M E MANAGER ) WHENUA OR A
Karioi is our new project, focused on growing ancient crops using a tikanga-led approach. It found us out on the māra last November, getting our hands and knees dirty as we planted heritage varietals of kūmara and taewa (Māori potatoes). This māra is down the road from Te Āwhina Marae in Motueka. Here, we planted a colourful range of complementary crops between the vegetables that will suppress weeds, help to improve soil conditions, and provide additional kai. Karioi got off to a soggy start. The unseasonal deluge of rain we experienced in spring meant gumboots were essential for our first planting sessions. Then the Boxing Day 2020 hailstorm over Motueka really tested the resilience of our budding plants. But our good spirits have prevailed, as have, thankfully, most of our plants.
16
