Mahika kai (to work the food) is about the traditional ways of growing, gathering, and safeguarding food. Our reefs were abundant in marine life and an important food source for Māori.

There was a long established cycle of gathering, traveling, and trading endured until the late 1800s. The trails and settlements extended into the lakes, rivers, and corridors of native bush where there were many areas to hunt and gather on the way. Māori used Mōkihi rafts made of flax or raupō to cross rivers and wetlands. They planted Te Kouka Cabbage trees along these trails as a source of food and fibre on their journey, and made kete (woven baskets) from the Harekeke flax.

How could you pretend you’re hunting for kai (food) at the playground?

CPLAY-Whare-Downstairs-1910x920-231130_1.pdf

CPlay-Resource-MahikaKai-Catch-Grow-240213.pdf