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Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is a sacred practice where the accumulation of information from ancestors is passed down through oral story telling to share techniques or warnings on local resources. The comparison of practice to western science is that TEK speaks of the interaction between people, plants, animals, and landscapes, all of which coexist in a manner to mutually benefit but also preserve the natural environment (Charles & Cajete, 2020).

TEK was only adapted as a term into western science in 1980, as oral story telling is a collection of many perspectives from ancestors rather than one researcher, which further urges preservation to preserve indigenous culture and knowledge (Finn, Herne, & Castille, 2017). Māori as indigenous people to Aotearoa, their cultural custom is to kōrero (talk) and wānanga (meet to discuss) with another iwi or hapū (tribe) to share tīpuna (ancestors) pakiwaitara (legends). Native people rely on oral sharing, which makes it ever more important for both western science and culture that there is equal preservation or access to these contemporary practices (Robbins, 2018).

By incorporating both principles and techniques in a culturally competent manner, it will benefit the collective, especially as our population focuses on grassroots action to combat the effects of climate change.

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Mātauranga Māori is the indigenous people’s way of engaging and being part of the surrounding world following tikanga (cultural practices) and acknowledging their kaitiakitanga (stewardship) as tangata whenua (people of the land) passed down by their tīpuna (ancestors). Key principles include acknowledgement of whakapapa; connection or genealogy to the land, mana; authority or integrity over natural resources and taonga tuku iho; the intergenerational perspective to ensure future mokopuna (grandchildren) are able to thrive on their indigenous land (Harmsworth & Awatere, 2013).

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Harakeke, also known as flax or Phormium tenax is a large herbaceous plant which is predominantly used for non-medicinal purposes (Te Papa Tongarewa, 2024). This fibre is well sought after resource and Māori widely use it primarily to create household necessities, rope, baskets, hunting and gathering tools but also weaving to create cultural pieces such as korowai (cloak). Tikanga is when harvesting Harakeke often found in swamp like bush, the practice is to take the outer leaves (“the great great grandparents” to ensure the rito (baby/middle shoot) is left with its parents (awhi rito) to allow the bush to continuously grow. While continuing to wash down the leaves of the plant still on the bush to ensure not bugs are deteriorating the harakeke.

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How to harvest & clean your NZFlax  (Phormium) Bush

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Taramea, also known as Spaniard or Aciphylla colensoi is found in low-alpine grasslands with large speargrass up to 1 metre tall predominantly used for non-medicinal purposes (New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, 2024). This taonga originally has been used to mix with animal fat to create perfume scents or oil and often a key part of Māori trade for pounamu (greenstone) or a gift between iwi (MEA Fragarance , 2024). This traditional use has been persevered and resurrected in modern day with local companies following tikanga to make natural fragrances.

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Hue, also known as Gourd or Lagenaria siceraria is typically found in the North Island with a main purpose to grow the vegetation for non-medicinal uses to hollow out and bake in an earth oven (Te Ara, 2017). Gourd pollination requires male pollination and will shrivel up to allow growth on the vine creating large heavy bulbs (Toi Toi Botanicals, 2024).  Harvesting a large hue and following tikanga by drying it out, they were often carved into or painted to become both water or food containers, this is still practiced in some part today.

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Kōwhai, also known as Sophora tetraptera, it can be identified by its yellow flowers with a main purpose for medicinal use. Kōwhai can grow upwards of 12 metres and their bark can be harvested and can be incorporated or taken in many ways either orally or directly on to the wound. Often for bruises or cuts Māori would bathe in Kōwhai to help with itching or even gonorrhoea (Tāne’s Tree Trust, 2024). Kōwhai is also the National Flower of New Zealand which enticed European settlers in the 1800s and some travellers taking it back to the United Kingdom or England to grow for their own use.

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Mānuka, also known as Leptospermum scoparium is a shrub or small tree of up to 10 metres that Māori would harvest the flowers for medicinal use.  Found in low alpine regions around Aotearoa is very tolerant to weather conditions and often used in restoration projects as grazing animals aren’t fond of the plants (Department of Conservation, 2024).  The leaves are taonga with its versatility Māori found by brewing the leaves to create tea, it helps to alleviate stomach or urinary upset and a thicker gum like texture could be extracted as moisturiser (New Zealand Story, 2024).

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Kawakawa, also known as Macropiper excelsum is a lowland forest shrub also nicknamed pepper tree used for medicinal purposes by Māori. This plant would often be turned to in time of rheumatism or mainly body or joint paints. It would be chewed on to also help with kidney disease or to ease stomach pain (Te Papa, 2024). Due to the sacred symbol, it is often used at a tangi (funeral) as an important medicinal plant to Māori it is important to incorporate it into the ritual of wearing it around the head as a wreath (Te Ara, 2011).

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Charles, C., & Cajete, G. A. (2020). Wisdom Traditions, Science and Care for the Earth: Pathways to Responsible Action. Ecopsychology, 12(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0020

Department of Conservation. (2024). Mānuka/kahikātoa and kānuka. Retrieved from Department of Conservation: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/manuka-kahikatoa-and-kanuka/

Finn, S., Herne, M., & Castille, D. (2017, August 29). The Value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge for the Environmental Health Sciences and Biomedical Research. Traditional Ecological Knowledge: A Different Perspective on Environmental Health, 126(014002). doi:10.1289/EHP858

Harmsworth, G. R., & Awatere, S. (2013). Indigenous māori knowledge and perspectives of ecosystems. Ecosystem services in New Zealand – conditions and trends, 274-286. Retrieved from https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/assets/Discover-Our-Research/Environment/Sustainable-society-policy/VMO/Indigenous_Maori_knowledge_perspectives_ecosystems.pdf

MEA Fragarance . (2024). Taramea. Retrieved from MEA Fragarance : https://meafragrance.co.nz/taramea/

New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. (2024). Aciphylla colensoi. Retrieved from New Zealand Plant Conservation Network: https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/aciphylla-colensoi/

New Zealand Story. (2024). Mānuka. A honey of a plant. Retrieved from New Zealand Story: https://nzstory.govt.nz/stories/manuka-a-honey-of-a-plant#:~:text=M%C4%80NUKA%20AND%20M%C4%80ORI%3A%20A%20SPECIAL%20RELATIONSHIP&text=Infusions%20made%20with%20the%20leaves,burns%2C%20and%20to%20ease%20coughing.

Robbins, J. (2018, April 26). Native Knowledge: What Ecologists Are Learning from Indigenous People. Retrieved from Yale Environment 360: https://e360.yale.edu/features/native-knowledge-what-ecologists-are-learning-from-indigenous-people

Tāne’s Tree Trust. (2024). Kowhai (Sophora tetraptera and Smicrophylla). Retrieved from Tāne’s Tree Trust Native Forests for our Future: https://www.tanestrees.org.nz/species-profiles/kowhai/#:~:text=Various%20infusions%20of%20kowhai%20bark,from%20colds%20and%20sore%20throats.

Te Ara. (2011). The tangihanga process. Retrieved from Te Ara : https://teara.govt.nz/en/tangihanga-death-customs/page-4

Te Ara. (2017). A Gourd used by Māori. Retrieved from Te Ara: https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/1789/a-gourd-used-by-maori#:~:text=Polynesian%20settlers%20to%20New%20Zealand,water%20vessels%20and%20food%20containers.

Te Papa. (2024). Rongoā Māori, Māori Medicine. Retrieved from Te Papa Tongarewa: https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/maori-medicine

Te Papa Tongarewa. (2024). Harakeke - New Zealand Flax. Retrieved from Collections Te Papa: https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/3623#:~:text=M%C4%81ori%20cherished%20harakeke%20and%20cultivated,also%20to%20use%20in%20medicine.

Toi Toi Botanicals. (2024). Growing Gourds. Retrieved from Toi Toi Botanicals : https://toitoi.co.nz/pages/growing-gourds?srsltid=AfmBOopfjXFzeqaCSY7aAH2sxNzq1GGQUda1qKjoGxNpOQ8pbzX5hUOJ