Creating sustainable change

Kai Rotorua’s Te Rangikaheke Kiripatea (centre) with Kaharoa Community Maara kaitiaki, Amir and Astrid Namdari.

Local kai system champion

The man behind Rotorua’s kūmara revitalisation is Te Rangikaheke Bidois from Kai Rotorua. He says growing kai, particularly the kūmara, goes back to his whakapapa.

Matariki kūmara planting

Healthy Families Rotorua is working with Kai Rotorua to plant a special maara Matariki for the city’s official umu kohukohu whetū next year. Lead systems innovator, Pirihira Whata, says the garden will be established at Te Puea Orchard with traditional kūmara varieties, such as hutihuti and taputini, and will be used as hautapu (offerings) for […]