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An iwi market garden on Banks Peninsula is the focus of a new whanau health project.
Koukourarata Runanga and Lincoln University have been funded by the South Island Whanau Ora commissioning agency, Te Putahitanga o te Wai Pounamu, to revive the garden at Koukourarata-Port Levy.
The site was used to grow food to sell to early colonists as far back as the 1880s.
The university’s Bio-Protection Research Centre and its Biological Husbandry Unit will work with the runanga to Tom Lambie says the University is pleased to be part of such an important community focused project which aims to enhance economic, environmental and educational outcomes for Maori.
The University will work with the runanga to identify suitable sustainable crops and develop the value chain.
There could also be weekend wananga on traditional Maori practices and foods, as well as sustainable farming practices.
In the past the runanga has planted along waterways in the area, created a native forest reserve, established a mataitai fishing reserve in the bay, and developing a successful mussel farming venture with Sanford.
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