The garden at Pukemokimoki marae

Marcia and Lionel in the hothouse

Lionel and others tending the mara kai gardens

Watering the trees which will
one day replace the picket fences.

Ahuriri Maori warden and Maraenui resident Marcia Crawford has been bugging me for weeks now to come down to Pukemokimoki and take some pictures of the awesome garden that she and other EIT students have developed and are tending, to grow fruit and veges for the community.

So with the tangihanga over, the way was clear for me to visit and have a look at this garden, which I have watched grow over the last few years.  I was impressed.

The 16 adult students, under HB EIT tutor Jackie, are now potting up summer veges as well as native tree plants.  

Their hot house gives the baby plants a warm boost before they are planted out into either the raised beds or around the marae.

They have recently planted about $500 worth of native trees, Jackie told me - kowhai, akeake, coprosmas, tarata and hebes.  The trees are around the edges of the marae property, and will serve as an attractive windbreak.  

Those being planted by the picket fence at the front of the marae will eventually replace that fence.

Marcia said schools who come to the marae are asked to bring a tree to plant.  She showed me some kaka beak trees donated and planted by Porritt school students who had come to the marae for a visit.

Marcia standing at
the gate - waharoa - to the marae.

"When the schools come, they learn about the inside of the marae, but I like to show them a special connection with the garden.  

Tu Ahuriri, one of the main figures at the front of the whare, looks like he's holding a spear, but it's a hoe.  He was a gardener and they too can plant a tree for the future.

"So when they plant their tree, Nanny Kahu does a karakia and they sing a song. When they come back to this marae in future years, their tree will have grown, just like they have."

Pukemokimoki marae is becoming more and more beautiful every time I visit, and has become the heart of a caring community who appreciate the special role it plays in bringing people together.