Aleise Puketapu

Tikanga-led production systems for key Māori cultivated crops.

Māori, the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa | New Zealand, were agriculturalists. Generational agricultural knowledge and subsistence living were key to Māori survival and success across Aotearoa. Kūmara (Ipomoea batatas), brought to Aotearoa by Māori, was the principal crop grown and consumed by early-Māori. European contact and settlement brought new crops such as potatoes, cabbage, corn, and wheat, as well as new trade opportunities. Alongside kūmara, several introduced crop species are considered taonga (treasured or important) by Māori, owing to their reliance on and relationship with these crops, including taewa (Solanum tuberosum, Māori potatoes), kamokamo (Cucurbita pepo), and kānga (Zea mays). Contemporary taonga crop production by Māori is largely limited to māra or garden scale, whether this is at home, on Marae or community garden scale. Taonga crop production is often included as an option in Māori land-use exploration, typically supplementary to other primary production ventures. This research aims to investigate the feasibility of scaled production of selected taonga crops in alignment with Te Ao Māori (The Māori World or worldviews) and Māori landowners' aspirations. This research draws on cultural and scientific realms and employs a mixed-methods research approach, which creates space to consider all relevant knowledges and their interactions. This presentation will provide an overview of the wider research aims and questions and will focus on components of this research relevant to traditional growing practices and contemporary taonga production challenges.