#tikouka

Meet kōtukutuku – a remarkable tree you've probably walked right past 🌿 This World Wildlife Day celebrates medicinal and aromatic plants, so we wanted to introduce you to Aotearoa New Zealand's own tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata). It is the world's largest fuchsia species, found absolutely nowhere else on Earth. Kōtukutuku is full of surprises. It's one of the few native trees that drops its leaves in winter – unusual in our evergreen bush. Its bark peels away in papery strips, revealing a stunning palette underneath. And for generations, Māori have used it medicinally – as an ingredient in baths to help with childbirth, fevers, and burns. Birds like tūī, kererū, and korimako bellbirds all feed on fuchsia nectar. But kōtukutuku is under pressure. Deer and possums can strip back entire populations from the landscape, potentially browsing it to local extinction. When these introduced pests decimate these plants, there’s less food for native species to thrive. Keep an eye out for that peeling bark next time you're in the bush! 🌳🪶

A new plant story that takes us to New Zealand and @longbushcottage Luke has been listening to Our Plant Stories since day one (THANKS!) and he wanted to share a plant story about the harakeke (and the Tui) in his cottage garden. Though born in New Zealand he says he is still learning about this native plant which he calls the soul of his garden. We couldn’t have done it without Edith Rolls a Māori weaver who shares with us the spiritual and practical importance of this plant. With thanks to @larissadeanacarlson for making the introductions. A storm briefly interrupted our recordings as you’ll hear but we weren’t going to let that stop us from telling this beautiful story! I really think that with Edith and Luke’s help you will see this plant in a whole new light. #harakeke #plants #newzealand🇳🇿 #cottagegarden #plantstories

The ripe berries of Taupata (Coprosma repens), Karamu (Coprosma lucida repens) and Kanono (Coprosma Grandifolia) are all edible, they are traditionally valued for their high vitamin C content so these are a great NZ native to learn to identify. The amount of berries a single rākau can produce is remarkable! We have a lot going on and coming up in our native plant nursery including my very first landscaping job of around 2000 trees 🧚🌿💚🍃 #rongoārākau #nativeseeds #nativeberries #vitaminc #wellbeingorganics

This one is 80m tall and 800 years old. It’s a Kahikatea, or white pine and is a coniferous tree native to NZ. It is one of the tallest native trees in NZ. Used by Māori or early settles to treat ailments. Soot from burnt wood was used as a tattooing pigment. Birds love the nectar or berries from these trees and often play a role in dispersing seeds in the process. The narrow straight trunk of the Kahikatea trees, (kauri are thicker) and mottled bark is a giveaway that you’re standing next to one of these ancient giants. This one is at White Pine Bush Have you seen one of these giant trees? Tell us where. #NativeTrees #Conservation #Tauranga

I talk about the aruhe plant and its atua, Haumietiketike, who represents all wild plants found in the ngahere. I explain how the roots of this plant were traditionally consumed as kai by our ope taua (war party) as a source of nourishment, and discuss how it’s a starch that requires special preparation methods before eating to avoid harm. #plantlife🌱 #indigenousknowledge #aotearoa #whakapapa

At Te Awa o Te Atua, Bubby Huata shares the living knowledge of harakeke — not just how to cut it, but how to care for it so it continues to thrive for generations. Every leaf has a purpose, every cut has intention. The rito is protected, the awhi rito supported, and the outer leaves harvested with respect. This isn’t just maintenance — it’s tikanga, it’s whakapapa, it’s a relationship between people and whenua that has always been guided by balance and care. For those who have something to say about practices they don’t understand, take a moment to watch and learn. Harakeke doesn’t survive through neglect — it flourishes through knowledge passed down and upheld with pride. What you’re seeing here is mātauranga Māori in action, grounded, practical, and enduring Respect the process, respect the people, and respect the taonga. #harakeke #maitanance #tewhanau #territory #mataurangamaori #cherishpurtaonga #tewharepora

Hei tā ngā rangahau a Waipapa Taumata Rau, he hanga rongoā nei te harakeke, mōna i tango i ngā matū kino i ngā wai tāhawahawa. #aotearoa #māori #harakeke

“Te Mahi a Matakore” We had an awesome time gathering and learning all about kākano (seeds) in Te Rohe Pōtae. We learnt about kākano, such as those from the Kahikatea Tree, which have fruit packed with nutrients and were gathered in Autumn to eat in the lead-up to Winter. From identifying kākano and their fruit and testing their viability, to storing the seeds - this mahi is fun AND important! We’ll be sharing more of this wānanga in a longer video very soon. Til then, here’s a kōrero Edz shared about seed gathering from Ngāti Maniapoto: Te Mahi a Matakore.

Houhere in bloom - Ngā tohu õ te ngahuru 🍂 When Houhere flowers, it’s a clear tohu that Ngahuru, Autumn is near. Pā shares how this beautiful rākau was traditionally used for weaving and rongoā 🌿

Back in November, Matua Te Rangikaheke very generously gifted our kura a collection of kūmara tipu (plants). Since then, they have been growing quietly in our māra, nourished by the whenua, the rain, and the care of our learners. 🌱 On Wednesday, during Rakaunui (the full moon), it was time to harvest. Guided by tikanga Māori, our learners took part in a special and meaningful harvesting experience that connected them to traditional knowledge, seasonal rhythms, and the land. 🌕 A large portion of the harvested kūmara will be carefully stored in preparation for our Puanga festival next term—continuing the cycle of seasonal celebration and mātauranga Māori within our kura. 🌿 #Mātauranga #Māori #puanga #kaitiakitanga #learningfromtheland

A human tip: connection looks like revisiting plants. It locks you into the whenua and keeps you growing and suppprted while the plant grows strong roots for sustained survival. Kaitiakitangata is a life style not a moment that is fleeting #fyp #māori #howto #garden #harakeke