July 10, 2023
Urewera kai hampers sweet fundraiser
Ngāi Tuhoe company Manawa Honey is putting together unique kai hampers with a variety of Māori and Māori-pākeha fusion foods as a way to raise money for native forestry restoration.
Chief executive Brenda Tahi says it will support the work of the Tuawhenua Forest Restoration Trust, whose focus is a 9000-hectare forest around Ruatāhuna in the southern Bay Of Plenty.
She says the project is a chance to revive some traditional techniques.
“We’re training people in different food preparation for the hampers.. preserving fruits, using home-grown goods. These are all the kinds of things that are part of this hamper. And it’s a really important range of tikanga that we’re reviving, and bringing forward through this hamper initiative,” Ms Tahi says.
The Ahunga Feast Hampers include things like Te Urewera pork and venison, horopito meat rub, various honeys and honey-based sauces and preserves, and rewarewa honey and raisin steamed pudding.