Mahinga kai – natural resources that sustain life
This interactive features videos from Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai. The videos capture the stories and essence of traditional food-gathering practices passed down through the generations of Ngāi Tahu whānau. It also curates resources that aid learning about the practices and/or species.
Mahinga/mahika kai is a highly significant concept for Māori and is specific to iwi and their rohe.
To use this interactive, move your mouse or finger over any of the grey labelled boxes and select to obtain more information.
The article Mahinga kai provides additional background information.
Please note: the Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai videos link to YouTube.
Background image sourced from Ministry for Primary Industries and licensed by MPI for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Index
Transcript
Pōhā
Pōhā are storage containers used to transport and preserve important resources such as kōura, tuna and tītī (mutton birds). The pōhā used for tītī are made of rimurapa (bull kelp), harakeke and the shedding bark of the tōtara tree. These materials are carefully selected and prepared using knowledge passed down through generations.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Pōhā awarua – featuring pōhā expert Graham ‘Tiny’ Metzger, Ngāti Kurī/Rakiura
Download a PDF of the video transcript here
Articles
Pōhā – rokiroki kai – Science Learning Hub
Traditional Māori food gathering – Te Papa Tongarewa
Pōhā: A clever way of storing food – School Journal , Level 2, 2014
Video
A seaweed pantry – tales from Te Papa – Te Papa Tongarewa
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Kōura
Aotearoa is home to both freshwater and marine species of kōura (crayfish). Matapara, pawharu or kōura papatea (rock lobster) can be found along much of the coastline with concentrations along the east coast and southern parts of the country.
Some areas are particularly well known for their kōura populations such as Kaikōura – also known as Te Ahi kai kōura a Tama ki te Rangi – the place where Tama ki te Rangi cooked crayfish.
Kōura were traditionally harvested by hand or using pouraka – round pots constructed from the stems of pirita (supplejack) and lashed together with harakeke fibre. As well as this technique, diving and commercial fishing vessels are used for harvesting.
Freshwater kōura are important species in repo (wetlands). They were traditionally harvested using tau kōura. The mātauranga and rangahau that underpin tau kōura are now being used to monitor freshwater kōura around the globe.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Articles
Te kōura – te mōrehu onamata – Science Learning Hub
Te tau kōura – he tikanga tūturu mō te hopu me te tirotiro kōura – Science Learning Hub
Te whakaora ake i te kōura – Science Learning Hub
Monitoring kōura – Science Learning Hub
Kōura – NIWA
Activity
Building a tau kōura – Science Learning Hub
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Tuna
There are three species of tuna (freshwater eels) found in Aotearoa – longfin, shortfin and Australian spotted longfin. Tuna are one of the most important mahinga kai species. They are known to Māori by over 100 different names depending on their location and appearance.
Longfin tuna are endemic to Aotearoa and are classified as at risk – declining due to the impact of wetland drainage and other environmental changes.
Several techniques are used to harvest tuna including the use of baited hīnaki.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Tuna – featuring Iaean Cranwell harvesting and preparing tuna from Lake Wairewa
Download a PDF of the video transcript here
Articles
Longfin eels – Science Learning Hub
Longfin eel – on a path to extinction? – Science Learning Hub
Tuna – working with glass eels – Science Learning Hub
Tuna – NIWA
Videos
Eels – Science Learning Hub
The life cycle of eels – Science Learning Hub
Innovations – Iwi eel research – Science Learning Hub
Activity
Saving taonga – Science Learning Hub
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Īnaka
The name īnaka often describes the juveniles of five native fish species from the Galaxiidae family, but it can also be used to refer to the adults of these species. Various iwi use a variety of names for both juvenile and adult fish, as well as names to describe migrating or returning fish.
Īnaka are threatened by the decline in the quantity and quality of their habitats. Threats include the loss of repo, degradation of spawning grounds and barriers (culverts and floodgates) that disconnect migration and habitats.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Īnaka – featuring Paul Wilson from Te Waipounamu’s West Coast
Download a PDF of the video transcript here
Articles
Te matamata – ngā karu o Matariki – Science Learning Hub
Te ngaro haere o ngā tikanga tūturu e pā ana ki te hao matamata – Science Learning Hub
Me pēhea te whakaora ake i te matamata? – Science Learning Hub
Matamata: Eating with our tūpuna – Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Whitebait – Science Learning Hub
Whitebaiting – Science Learning Hub
Īnanga – NIWA
Videos
Inanga and other whitebait – Science Learning Hub
Culverts, ramps and baffles – Science Learning Hub
Activity
Saving taonga – Science Learning Hub
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Kanakana
Kanakana (Geotria australis ) are an ancient and unusual species. They look a little like tuna but are jawless, instead using a sucker-like mouth to attach to and parasitise fish and whales.
Commonly known as piharau in the North Island, kanakana are harvested using a variety of methods. These include:
harvesting by hand
using poles and rapu – sticks with hooks at the end
using hīnaki nets
pā kanakana – wooden weirs
whakaparu piharau – stone weirs
paipai – barriers made with small branches or a mat made of bracken.
Whakataukī
Ka kitea a Matariki, ka rere te korokoro (When Matariki is seen, the lamprey migrate) Keane (2010)
He manawa piharau (to have great stamina or endurance) From Taranaki
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Articles
Piharau/kanakana – lamprey – NIWA and Te Wai Māori
One with the environment – Sciblogs Mātau Taiao
Kanakana Harvest Mātauranga: Potential Tools to Monitor Population Trends on the Waikawa River, Southland/Murihiku – project report by Dr Jane Kitson
Understanding Tāonga Freshwater Fish Populations in Aotearoa New Zealand – NIWA and Te Wai Māori
Understanding the ugly yet noble piharau – The Spinoff
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Pātiki
There are several different species of pātiki (flounder) including:
pātiki – sand flounder
pātiki mohoao – black flounder
pātiki tōtara – yellow-belly flounder
Pātiki belong to the flatfish family and can be found in the shallow surf and estuaries around the coast of Aotearoa. Pātiki mohoao are the only truly freshwater species of the family.
Harvesting pātaki includes using techniques such as spearing and nets.
Declining water quality is impacting pātiki populations and harvesting.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Pātiki – featuring Don Brown who lives by Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere – Te Kete Ika a Rākaihautū/The Fish Basket of Rākaihautū
Download a PDF of the video transcript here
Articles
Pātiki – NIWA
Pātiki mohoao – black flounder – NIWA and Te Wai Māori
Understanding Tāonga Freshwater Fish Populations in Aotearoa New Zealand – NIWA and Te Wai Māori
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Pāua
Pāua are large sea snails found in shallow coastal waters on rocky shorelines. They survive by having a hard shell and clinging to rocks with a large muscular foot. Pāua are highly valued as kaimoana and are important for manaakitanga ki ngā manuhiri (hosting of visitors). The shells, which have a blue-green iridescence on the inside, are used for creating ornaments and fish hooks and are added to carvings.
Blackfoot pāua (Haliotis iris ) are the most commonly found and caught species. Yellow-foot pāua (Haliotis australis ) are only caught in small numbers. Pāua have small home ranges, and seeding has been used to help restore populations.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Pāua – featuring Khyla Russell and Brendan Flack, pāua protectors who live by the Karitane coastline north of Dunedin
Download a PDF of the video transcript here
Articles
Pāua status and information – Ministry for Primary Industries
Guidelines for gathering paua – Ministry for Primary Industries
Passionate about paua – New Zealand Geographic
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Toheroa
Toheroa (Paphies ventricosa ) are large endemic clams found in the intertidal zones in west and south-facing Northland, Kāpiti and Southland beaches. Once abundant, populations have substantially decreased from overharvesting. Despite toheroa being protected, their populations have failed to recover.
Techniques aimed at protecting and growing toheroa beds have included translocation. Rāhui have included stopping harvests during the main spawning time – indicated by the flowering of kūmarahou – restricting harvests to 2 days a year and enacting a full-scale ban.
Unfortunately, challenges such as water pollution, illegal harvesting and vehicles driving over beds and crushing juveniles continue to add pressure to toheroa populations.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Tohera – featuring Cyril Gilroy gathering toheroa at Ōreti Beach
Download a PDF of the video transcript here
Articles
Reviving toheroa – Science Learning Hub
Thinking outside the can: Engineering toheroa aquaculture – Sustainable Seas
Video
Toheroa: Rejuvenating a Delicacy – Project Mātauranga video on the Science Learning Hub
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Tuaki
The tuaki, tuangi or New Zealand cockle is an endemic shellfish that lives just below the surface of the sand. They are subtidal, found up to 10 m deep and are common all around Aotearoa. Tuaki were often harvested by the locals using their feet to dig down into the sand, then their toes to bring the tuaki to the surface, always leaving the small ones behind.
Gathering tuaki with whānau is a fun activity, and for many people, tuaki are an important food source. In some places, populations are under pressure.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Tuaki – featuring Meri and Charlie and four generations of Crofts at Koukourārata – harvesting for customary take
Download a PDF of the video transcript here
Article
Cockles – Science Learning Hub
Activity
Labelling a cockle/tuangi – Science Learning Hub
Video
Investigating cockle/tuangi habitat – LEARNZ
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Mōkihi
Mōkihi (mohi, mōkī or mogi) are rafts made of bundles of raupō, flax stalks or rushes. They were an essential means of transport for early Māori travelling the waterways of Te Waipounamu. Designed to be light, buoyant and easily constructed, they allowed for crossing waterways in search of resources such as kai and pounamu.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Articles
Different waka for different roles – design for purpose – TKI
Raupō – traditional uses – Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Tī kōuka
The tī kōuka (Cordyline australis ) is a resilient tree found throughout Aotearoa in forest margins, wetlands and open spaces such as farmlands.
The tough fibrous quality of the leaves makes tī kōuka useful for creating anchor ropes, snares and nets, for weaving and as a fire starter. The tree is an important food source and rongoā, and the distinctive shape of the tree means they can be used as place markers. Some iwi use the trees’ flowering to make predictions about the weather.
Related resources
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Tī Kōuka – featuring Karl Russell, a local mahinga kai aficionado, as he takes a journey of discovery to explore the taste, texture and appeal of this once staple of the local diet
Download a PDF of the video transcript here
Articles
Tī kōuka – traditional uses – Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Cabbage tree/tī kōuka – Department of Conservation
Awhi mai awhi atu – kuku restoration – use of tī kōuka – Science Learning Hub
Māori ways of knowing – weather and climate – use of tī kōuka to predict climate patterns – Science Learning Hub
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
Rongoā
Rongoā is a holistic healing system connected to the concept of hauora. It includes the use of native plants to heal both people and the environment. The collection and preparation of plants for rongoā involves tikanga specific to individual iwi and hapū.
Species well known for their medicinal and healing properties include koromiko, harakeke and kawakawa. It is essential to have an understanding of the plants being used to ensure safety and protection of sources of rongoā. In preparation, parts of the plants such as roots and leaves can be made into poultices or tonics or simply chewed.
Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video
Related resources
Articles
Rongoā Māori – Science Learning Hub
Te āta tiaki i ngā rongoā – Science Learning Hub
Ngā rongoā o ngā repo – Science Learning Hub
Te whakahoki mai i ngā rākau rongoā ki te repo – Science Learning Hub
Te Reo Tipu – Science Learning Hub
Tākuta Jonni Koia – Science Learning Hub
Videos
Rongoā and repo – Science Learning Hub
Tihei Taiao – tipu in te taiao, what our tīpuna used them for, their kai or rongoā uses and how to identify them – Te Amokura Productions
Collection
Rongoā Māori – Science Learning Hub
Image acknowledgment: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
