Papatupu Papakāinga ki Taranaki - Te Rau o Rongo

Source: Building Better Homes, Towns & Cities

Pounamu Skelton (Taranaki Iwi, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Ruanui) and her whānau realised a vision of returning to Taranaki and living as whānau, exerting their mana motuhake and being kaitiaki of their whenua. The wider vision is intergenerational and is concerned with not only those of today, but with future generations. The whānau purchased land together in Onaero 14 months ago, and have set up their papakāinga which is a model of what can be achieved in a relatively short timeframe through hard and consistent work, persisting in the face of the many challenges that arise, reconnecting with tūpuna wisdom and leveraging off whānau and community skills.

A major priority for the whānau is kai sovereignty and being fully sustainable with food, and they are creating a home place where kai is available year-round. Te Rau o Rongo fosters whole community involvement in maara through reactivating tūpuna knowledge in a way that empowers whānau to grow food sustainably on their own whenua. The ‘Tatai Tangata ki te Whenua’ programme involves supporting whānau to grow their own kai through a gardening season. It’s a journey whereby participants begin growing kai at home and come to the papakāinga for wānanga about food sovereignty and where they are able to see maara practice on a larger scale.