The traditional Māori garden created at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi indigenous-university is developing well, despite the theft of some rare potato varieties.
Environmental Studies students and staff began the garden at the Tāmaki site in mid-November last year, intending to use ancient methods to grow pre-colonisation foods, medicines and other crops.
Lecturer Phil Ross said plants were looking good – some better than others. This was to be expected, as the garden used a variety of pre-European horticultural practices including soil amendments with ash, sand and gravel, stone-mulched mounds and cultivated soil heaps.
Progress had been blighted, however, by at least one act of vandalism, Mr Ross said. Along with seven varieties of pre-colonisation kumara, several old varieties of Māori potato had been planted.
“Also known as peruperu, they are purple heritage varieties, including speckled, banded, solid purple and others fading from purple to white. Over the Christmas period at least two varieties have been removed – and the precision with which they were taken would indicate that the people who took them understood their value,” Mr Ross said.
Volunteer gardeners had taken steps to protect the remaining plants, including removing identification tags. However, the thefts highlighted the need for protective fencing. The team plans to enclose the garden with palisade fencing, a traditional containment and pest management method using lashed poles.
“Palisade fencing is also an imposing structure that demands respect,” Mr Ross said.
However, a layer of volcanic rock about 30cm under the soil could cause problems. “The rock is an advantage in some respects: it restricts deep drainage and its presence means our garden is not affected by lower-level soils and sands. But it may pose problems with digging in fence posts.”
The volunteers were meeting this week to find ways of resolving another problem – conflicting perspectives on what constitutes traditional practice. Mr Ross said he hoped the gardeners would be able to agree on a way of operating the garden that would satisfy all viewpoints.
“There is so much potential for this garden as a learning resource, including sound scientific investigations and research. We have had several expressions of interest from other institutions who want to be part of this learning opportunity.”