We’ve found some more hidden gems at Te Pātaka, this time about Aotearoa’s flora. Learn about vegetables that grow in our freshwater and coastal areas, waka carvers and farmers telling the story of the “mighty totara” tree, the iconic New Zealand pasture that was originally artificially created and learn about how seeds were precious during the colonial period. Read stories about how the landscape became what we see today.

Rauwaru, the proverbial garden : Ngā-weri, Māori root vegetables, their history and tips on their use / Roskruge, Nick
“The third booklet in a series aligned to Maori foods. 118 pages which introduce over 30 ngaweri or Maori green vegetables sourced from, the forest or bush, as weeds in cultivations, or as crops. Each ngaweri is introduced including whakapapa references, botanical status, utility and culinary use where possible. The book also includes recipes, a glossary of Maori terms and an example of the maramataka Maori.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Tōtara : a natural and cultural history / Simpson, Philip
“The ‘mighty totara’ is one of New Zealand’s most extraordinary, biggest and oldest trees. It’s the heart of Maori carving and culture, as fence posts on settler farms, clambered up in the Pureora protests of the 1980s: the story of New Zealand can be told through totara. In words and pictures, through inside waka and leaves, farmers and carvers, the author takes us deep the trees: their botany and evolution, their role in Maori life and lore, and their environmental and cultural significance.” (Adapted from Amazon.com)

The botanical adventures of Joseph Banks / Harrison, Christina
“Sir Joseph Banks was a true botanical adventurer and pioneer. Not only did he reveal the floral wonders of the South Seas, New Zealand and Australia to European eyes, but he set Kew Gardens on its path to becoming the world’s foremost botanic garden, bringing in a wealth of rare and useful plants, which had far-reaching impact. Banks was uniquely privileged and no-one before or since has had such influence in the sphere of botany.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Continue reading “Native plants and their stories: Books from Te Pātaka” →