WelCom November 2021
Pā Phil Cody from Te Whānau Pukekaraka, Ōtaki and Elishka Graham from Māoriland Inc, Ōtaki, were part of a local working bee doing a recent planting of Renga Renga (New Zealand rock lilies) along the top of the Puke (hill) during the Māoriland Matariki festival.
The planting was part of the Matariki Taiao programme that has taken place over the last five years on Pukekaraka hill. An important part of Matariki is looking after the environment said Elishka Graham, ‘and that is part of what Māoriland wants to do’.
Pukekaraka overlooks St Mary’s Church and St Peter Chanel School on Convent Rd, Ōtaki. The plantings have also involved the children from St Peter Chanel.
‘This planting has completed over 1000 trees, flaxes and native grasses going in over the last five years on the southern slope of Pukekaraka,’ says Pā Peter Healy, Te Whānau Pukekaraka.
‘It’s great to have this final block cleared and planted, he says. ‘Pukekaraka hill is Ngāti Kapu land and we are really grateful they have allowed us to plant here.’
Recent funding for local mārae projects has seen a new track on the Pukekaraka, so access and viewing the plantings and the local vista is now much easier.