Guarding our environment

Only found in NZ: This is white ngutukaka in flower. It is one of the most endangered plants in New Zealand. Pictures by Tihei Taiao

I learnt my matauranga in the field from my elders, from my grandmother, and my papa across the river in Rangitukia,” East Coast Kaitiaki taiao and veteran DoC Ranger Graeme Atkins said.

“The Taiao is my passion and I hope people learn how special and unique our native plants are; some only live in this country so if we lose them, we lose them from the world.”

Aotearoa is home to nearly 4000 unique plant and animal species some of which are endangered or at risk of becoming extinct.

Tihei Taiao was created to archive these taonga (treasures) along with the traditional Maori knowledge about them to preserve it for generations to come.

Director Talisa Kupenga says the idea for the series came about when she and producer Fiona Apanui-Kupenga were at a first aid course.

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“One of the guidelines expressed by the tutor was ‘don't eat native plants, we have many poisonous ones and they can be life threatening'.

“This is true if you incorrectly identify, prepare and consume a plant, but it's that type of mainstream messaging that shows what has been filtered into our everyday lives, and accepted as ‘the norm' — a consequence of us not knowing our taiao as well as our tipuna once did.

“I knew people who did know how to prepare plants safely so I wanted to give them a platform to share that.”

Tihei Taiao also features Tame Malcom (Ngati Tarawhai, Ngati Pikiao, Te Arawa) who specialises in biosecurity and grew up learning about the taiao from his uncles.

Riki Bennett (Te Arawa, Ngati Porou) spends time educating youth about the environment, the Maori calendar and how Maori used the ngahere (forest) as a resource.

The 30-episode series is produced by Te Amokura Productions with funding from Te Mangai Paho.

You can watch it on the Te Amokura Facebook page every Friday.