KĀNUKA
...and whānau of the Whareponga Valley
KĀNUKA is a taonga species. Endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand, this plant (also known as Kunzea Ericoides) is part of the myrtaceae family and is commonly found along forest margins and lowland and mountain scrub.
Growing up to 30 metres in height, KĀNUKA often serve an important function in regenerating native forest, by providing shelter from wind and shade from sun for other fledging plants.
Although nicknamed 'tea tree' by Captain Cook, due to the leaves being used for brewing tea, KĀNUKA was prized by Māori for its utility well before the arrival of European settlers.
This treasured species of plant continues to serve many uses for Māori communities today. Some of these uses are documented in this Storymap, which details the value and meaning KĀNUKA has for a specific whānau Māori in the valley of Whareponga, Aotearoa New Zealand.
He taonga kē te ngahere
(The forest is an extraordinary treasure)
Beauty is evident in every part of te taiao Image Credit: Kiri Dell
...is about better understanding the meaning and value Māori give to te taiao (environment), ngahere (forest) and taonga (treasured) species.
Biosecurity matters can only be approached after first understanding how humans relate to and understand te taiao, ngahere and taonga species.
Māori beliefs, values and practices are believed to be intimately connected to te taiao – the natural environment.
They are grounded in an inherent understanding of the inter-relativity between humans, the ecosystem, the celestial spheres, and the entire universe.
Māori are diverse, so beliefs, values and behaviours must take account of whānau, hapū, and iwi differences, as well as a range of other factors.
Funded by the Mobilising for Action theme, and in collaboration with the Centre for Indigenous Psychologies , this project provides an Indigenous Māori psychological perspective, acknowledging the relevance of Māori worldviews for the biodiversity space in Aotearoa.
The value of KĀNUKA
While KĀNUKA has intrinsic value to Aotearoa as an endemic species, what value and meaning does it have for Māori who rely on it as a resource for everyday use?
Hinetu Dell, Elizabeth Ngarimu and Tatai Ngarimu at Whareponga Marae in September 2020 Image Credit: Kiri Dell
As a member of the myrtle family, KĀNUKA is susceptible to infection from myrtle rust.
We wanted to know what is at risk of being lost if this biosecurity threat were to prolifically infect KĀNUKA.
With a rich history as the home of Te Aitanga a mate hapū, Whareponga is a remote area where there is still no electricity, but where KĀNUKA is prevalent.
The location of Whareponga marae
We sat down to kōrero (converse) with three siblings raised in the valley of Whareponga, deep in the heart of Te Tairāwhiti, north of Gisborne.
The kōrero focussed on the interaction of the three siblings with this taonga species.
The whānau spoke of the multiple uses KĀNUKA has and continues to have for them and the people of the area.
Read through the information below to find out more.
The Utility of KĀNUKA
KĀNUKA provided much needed utility for the hunting and gathering type lifestyle of early Māori in the Whareponga Valley. Being highly adaptable and capable of reproducing and growing prolifically, the plant had many uses, and no part of it went to waste.
DEFORESTATION
Given KĀNUKA generally regenerates naturally in deforested areas, it is perhaps unsurprising that kōrero about the utility of KĀNUKA could not be disentangled from the historical deforestation that occurred in the Whareponga Valley.
The siblings lamented about the extensive deforestation prior to their childhood.
When you walk around the beach to Matahu, there are massive logs that come out - that are sticking out - and you gotta wonder about the bush from pre-Māori days
There was recognition the lack of native forest in the area now, was not always the way it was.
It must have been all native. It's in one of those moteatea, where there is a whole lot of tawa trees
Regret was expressed at how the ancient ngahere was destroyed.
Many native trees would have been cut down without a kaupapa (purpose)
And how even up until very recently, there was no ngahere in the area.
I think back 60 years ago, there was nothing there
The siblings recalled that, in their earlier days, scrub-clearing was a way of life for many in the area.
I remember scrub cutting...there is no scrub now because they were cutting it down. And, it was my job to take them their cup of tea, their smoko
REGENERATION
Despite the devastation caused by historical and recent deforestation, as a naturally regenerating plant, it did not take long for KĀNUKA to proliferate in the Whareponga Valley once more, and that this had occurred in the siblings lifetime.
The three siblings recalled childhood memories of KĀNUKA and how they used it for play.
We would cross the river to make a hut underneath the kānuka
In addition to play, KĀNUKA plantations were used as educational resources by the local school.
At Whareponga School, the teachers used to take us in the bush, in the ngahere, for our science
They were also used to educate about the inter-relativity between all things in the environment.
On some of them you can see the pakati pattern, you know the chevron...it's a bug that eats the thing and that's what they leave behind - the V form
The siblings knowledge about the utility of KĀNUKA grew over time, as plantations continually regenerated after historical deforestation. This led to kōrero about specific uses of parts of the plant, as detailed below.
LEAVES
The leaves of KĀNUKA had many uses, but were particularly noted for their functional purpose related to infusion of flavours, in eating and drinking, as well as their use as a building material.
In terms of drinking, the leaves were used as a type of tea, brewed in hot water. Although the siblings had never tried it, their father used to drink it.
What about drinking the leaf? I never tried it. Dad did. He did talk about it
With regard to food, the leaves were used to provide a more aesthetic appeal to cooked pig.
Oh, the other one - singeing the pig to give it the golden tan.
Chuck the green kānuka on the thing and then you smoke the thing out, and the pig comes out with a golden tan
Equally, the brush of the plant had much utility for buildings and shelters, particularly as an insulator.
Oh yeah, insulation. There is some in here (pointing to walls of the whare nui [meeting house])
Yep - walls and everything. Insulation
FIREWOOD
Specific uses for the wood of the KĀNUKA were discussed. In particular, there were and still are daily and weekly chores associated with the collection of KĀNUKA for the purposes of firewood.
Collection of wood formed a large part of daily life for the siblings during childhood.
We would go down the river, get the horse to drag it up, get the old axe
The wood would be stacked.
Get the wood from the heap. Stack the wood.
And then prepared for lighting.
During the week there was a roster [for] getting kindling
Before the wood was eventually used as firewood.
Everybody takes turns, light the fire, do the wood.
The wood of KĀNUKA was burned primarily for heating and cooking.
The kānuka chucks out a lot of heat aye...It holds the heat longer
There was some belief it may also have been used historically for funerary rites and the burning of tupāpaku (cadavers).
Nowadays however, KĀNUKA is still harvested from local naturally occurring plantations, primarily for the purposes of heating.
ASHES
Even after the KĀNUKA was used as firewood and burnt, the remnants also had utility, particularly for infusing kai (food) with particular flavours.
Pungarehu, or ashes, were an important part of the process of cooking bread.
And then of course there's the thing. you know, burning...for the ashes, for the pungarehu...for bread...rewana
The ashes also served the important function of cleaning eels.
And the pungarehu is (used for) taking the slime off the eels
There was a distinction made between ashes and embers.
Ngarehu is the glowing embers, and the pungarehu is the ashes
Although the pungarehu and ngarehu were distinguished, there was no mention of the function of the embers.
However, given the linguistic differentiation, it is assumed the KĀNUKA embers also may have served a function in food preparation.
TOOLS
The hardwood of the KĀNUKA makes it especially useful for a variety of tools and building supplies.
The siblings spoke of a range of tools utilising KĀNUKA wood, including a broom, shovel and rake. All of these tools were made during the sibling's childhood and had lasted the test of time.
The handles [of the tools] - we're still using them today.
The shovels! I did the shovel. Dad did the rake.
They also spoke about KĀNUKA being used as a design feature in the building of whare, specifically as door knobs.
...and doorknobs!
One of the siblings recalled KĀNUKA being intentionally planted for the purposes of taiaha, on account of the hardness and straightness of the wood.
Mum showed me where to get rākau mo te taiaha. She said because those kānuka have been deliberately grown for that purpose, because they are straight
Referring to a photo of a group on the beach, another of the siblings commented about the utility of the hardwood in the making of the fishing nets.
You know that old photo of them on the beach - that would have been kānuka
Myrtle Rust Threat
Given the extensive utility that KĀNUKA continues to have for whānau in Whareponga Valley, the implications of myrtle rust infecting plants in the area would be devastating.
Yet, none of the siblings had heard of myrtle rust, and consequently were unaware of how to identify it, and the affect it could have for them and their relationship to KĀNUKA.
The Next Generation
The siblings emphasized the importance of the next generation learning about the value and meaning of KĀNUKA.
It is important the next generation come home, spend time at home, so they maintain connection with our particular ngahere and rākau
Engagement in kānuka by the younger generation is key to the survival of cultural knowledge, but also to the plant itself Image Credit: Kiri Dell
Due to its abundant uses, the knowledge of the utility and importance of KĀNUKA to Te Aitanga a mate should not be lost.
Some efforts are underway by some whānau to ensure the younger generations are exposed to and engage with KĀNUKA as often as possible.
This inevitably involves returning to Whareponga Valley and immersing themselves in the area.
Raising awareness of the utility and importance of KĀNUKA to the younger generations serves a purpose that extends beyond the regeneration and maintenance of cultural knowledge.
On a more practical level, it provides a strong foundation for educating about what is at risk of being lost if biosecurity incursions, such as myrtle rust, impact the area.
Watch the clip below to see how whānau are active in immersing themselves and their tamariki (children) in KĀNUKA plantations in Whareponga Valley.
Mobilising to Act
Much is at risk if myrtle rust reaches the Whareponga Valley Image Credit: Kiri Dell
Our kōrero with the siblings from Whareponga Valley highlight the importance this taonga species has for this whānau.
KĀNUKA is deeply embedded within narratives and memories of the past, and it's utility still serves the community in the present.
A biosecurity incursion to this area, such as myrtle rust, would significantly alter the relationships of the people to KĀNUKA, but subsequently also to associated practices and the surrounding landscape.
Without the opportunity to utilise KĀNUKA in ways that are pragmatic, yet also meaningful to what it is to be Te-Aitanga a mate hapū, much is at risk of being lost.
Therefore, initiatives that engage with the community in authentic ways to provide knowledge about and understandings of myrtle rust and its potential impact, would be a useful endeavour.
The many uses of KĀNUKA for whānau in the Whareponga Valley
