He kai kei aku ringa.  There is food at the end of my hands.

Tēnā koutou katoa

He mihi tēnei ki a Rongomātāne, atua of cultivated kai and peace.

The cooler weather of Paengawhāwhā brought with it the many opportunites of hononga ki te taiao – connecting with the environment.  Kūmara were brought by tūpuna Māori when they arrived in Aotearoa and provided a very important source of nourishment.  Many iwi have immortalised the kūmara in their kōrero, pūrākau and waiata.  Kūmara were stored in pits in the whenua that were lined with ponga leaves so that it would remain dry.  Pātaka, or storehouses that were raised on poles were another method of storing crops.  Today there are a lot of organisations keen on supporting kai resilience and promoting healthy and affordable vegetables, especially with the impact of recent severe weather events and the covid pandemic.

We bring you stories from Te Upoko o Te Ika where centres have been working in mahitahi, collaboration with Enviroschools at Pinehaven Playcentre. 

Enviroschools  and Garden to Table also met with kaiako at Tapu Te Ranga Marae to continue their journey of growing and harvesting kūmara.

Whakatipu kūmara ki Te Upoko o Te Ika –  Growing kūmara in Wellington

There are a large range of rauemi, that you can use to help guide you in growing seedlings and recipes to cook, a free dictionary with lots of kupu Māori around kai and ngā atua Māori called Toi te Kupu and a pukapuka called Nana’s Veggie Garden – Te ­Mara Kai a Kui.

Paengawhāwhā

Kua putu ngā tupu o ngā kai I ngā paenga o ngā māra

All stalks are now stacked at the borders of the plantation

Rauemi/Resources

Garden to Table support schools to empower tamariki to gain skills and knowledge in growing fresh, seasonal and affordable kai. They weave te ao Māori perspectives, pūrākau, and history and have collaborated with the Te Reo Club to create resources.       Garden to Table      Taster resources — Garden to Table

Tunu Kai Process Cooking, another pamphlet from Ki te hoe Indigenising Practise with recipes and waiata to support te reo Māori and cooking kai. Tunu-Kai-Process-Cooking.pdf (ako.ac.nz)

Ki te māra kai, In the garden; some te reo Māori words, phrases and whakataukī that support learning and growing kai by Kotahi Mano Kāika   Ki+te+māra+kai.pdf

Short films and Kai cards are some of the resources that will encourage and inspire whānau to grow kai by He Kai Kei Aku Ringa  He Kai Kei Aku Ringa – Kai Cards and Meal Plans

Lots of activities and even more resources around māra kai, science and education  tuia-matauranga/resources-and-activities/lets-explore-ideas-and-activities/mara-kai-gardening-for-food

The Heart Foundation have a range of education resources to encourage physical activity and healthy food choices for tamariki. They deliver programmes into schools and early learning services.  Discover great tips to get kids into the kitchen, browse their kid friendly recipes and resources for kids and nutrition.

Toi Te Kupu is a free Māori-to-English and English-to-Māori dictionary about kai, cooking, our body and our mind, it includes;

    • New stories of the Atua and the foods of Tāne, Tangaroa, Haumia and Rongo
    • Kupu (words) for everyday foods including fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, dairy, meat and eggs
    • Kupu for parts of the body and some common health terms
    • Kupu for whānau-focused activities, from sports to general play and the equipment needed
    • org.nz/resources/toi-te-kupu-he-papakupu-toiora

Nana’s Veggie Garden – Te ­Mara Kai a Kui

By Marie Munro, Rachel Doragh, Piripi Walker (Kaituhi Māori)

Bella, Jacob and Lucas help their Nana grow, harvest and eat an amazing summer garden.  They create aweosme memories and have heaps of fun ticking off holiday bucket-list adventures like;

Nana’s garden,

it grows and it grows

from the tiny wee seeds

she plants in neat rows

Kei te tupu haere

te mara a Kui,

kei te tupu, keu te tupu

he kakano iti i ruia mai,

he rarangi, he momo.

Whakanuia Te Rā o Māmā – Celebrate Mothers’ Day – 12th May

 

Te Rā o Māmā – Reo Māori (reomaori.co.nz)

Learn some phrases and print some cards by Aho Creative – mini-mihi-cards-free-printable-rauemi