TEK has been described as the “cumulative body of knowledge, belief, and practice, evolving by accumulation of ecological knowledge and handed down through generations through traditional songs, stories and beliefs” (Kimmerer, 2002).  It concerns knowledge of the environment and its relationship with us as human beings in the context of our traditional indigenous groups.  

TEK is slowly becoming more incorporated into science.  TEK is often passed down generation to generation by word of tongue and hands on experience, rather than written down or published.  Because of this, it is difficult to encompass this knowledge into scientific studies or practices of conservation and management.  Yet more and more is science promoting the use of TEK into ecological understanding, impact assessments and other areas of scientific research (Huntington, 2000).  

Royal and Kaka-Scott - 'Māori foods – kai Māori - Modern cuisine’ - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Accessede 15/9/22

The leaves are either a deep green or yellowish-green in colour and are are about 5–10 cm long by 6–12 cm wide.

Kawakawa is also plant that has a peppery taste to its leaves and is used in cooking.  But more traditionally Kawakawa was burned and used as an insect repellant.

Kawakawa also holds significance in Māori events and functions.  Wreaths of kawakawa are worn as a sign of mourning.  Waving leaves of kawakawa is often a welcoming tradition at a marae.

https://herbs.org.nz/herbs/kawakawa/. Accessed 19/9/23

Department of conservation - native plants https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/harakeke-flax/ accessed 13/9/2022.

Berkes, F., 2017. Religious traditions and biodiversity.  Encyclopedia of Biodiversity.

Huntington, H.P., 2000. Using traditional ecological knowledge in science: methods and applications. Ecological applications, 10(5), pp.1270-1274.