Arohanui Haumihiata Lawrence was inspired by traditions of sharing surplus produce between marae. She establishmed a community garden at Waipatu Marae, where the public can browse the garden and pick produce for a small koha. Reporter/Thomas Airey. Video/Warren Buckland
Arohanui Lawrence of Hastings has been awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to Māori and sustainable food production for her Aunty's Garden initiative at Waipatu Marae.
Lawrence, 74, established the community garden as it is today back in 2010, with the public free to browse and pick produce fora small koha.
An avid gardener her whole life, she said she first started out following her father, who grew tomatoes and peas for Wattie's in the 1960s.
"I loved doing this growing up," Lawrence said.
"We were just kids then but we worked, and I loved it."
"We had it growing up, families had it, your nextdoor neighbours had it."
Aunty's Garden was inspired in part by the exchanges with those neighbours over the fence.
But Lawrence said much of that was lost with people moving away from the marae to find work.
She said because everyone is so busy now much of the connection between people and the land has been lost, but there is nothing like eating fresh food and seeing things grow.
Arohanui Lawrence says she will keep the koha garden at Waipatu Marae in Hastings going as long as she can. Photo / Warren Buckland
"It's like a Thanksgiving really, what the earth, Papatūānuku, has there for you if you nurture it and look after it."
That's why she enjoys even the parts of gardening others don't, like weeding.
"Those kūmara for instance, we've weeded them today, given them a bit of a touch up.
"It's like giving them a kiss and a cuddle. And when you come back in two days time, they've burst into life."
