The Pourewa site comprises a māra kai, (food garden), a nursery for native plants and a waahi rongoa (Maori medicine garden and sacred place).

The māra kai feeds an estimated 100 people a week. The team follow the Maramataka (traditional Maori planting by the moon) and grow a wide range of food in a beautiful design by Matua Rob Small, as part of his Masters Degree.

The activities on-site offer an ongoing legacy in terms of the protection and development of the Tāmaki plant collection, as well as the development of a seed bank of Tāmaki species. These collections help support Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as a key educator, carrier and guardian of knowledge, and leader for research around kaitiakitanga, traditional use and practices. Plants are also used in the restoration of the Pourewa Valley – link opposite.

The waahi rongoā medicine garden interfaces with the public, as part of the Tāmaki plant collection, and as a physical site for hands-on education and research.

The site also boasts a fantastic composting laboratory with several systems in use.

“Without a doubt, our ancestors will be smiling at this, when they were here, it was just a patch of grass. Fast forward 100-200 years later and it’s a plantation that feeds their descendants.”

Come and check out the māra kai (vegetable garden), waahi rongoā (medicine garden) and para (composting) at Pourewa!