Eating with my Tuupuna Summary

June 2024

Cheri van Schravendijk-Goodman, Swampfrog Environmental & Tree Consultants Ltd

The Eating With my Tuupuna project explores the deep cultural significance of hauanga kai (food gathering sites) and mahinga kai (food gathering practices) for Waikato-Tainui poukai marae. These traditional food resources and practices are fundamental to tribal identity and have sustained generations, with the health of hauanga kai reflecting the health of the iwi themselves.

The project examines key poukai species – traditional foods served at important tribal gatherings. This includes exploring the rich mātauranga (traditional knowledge) embedded in the Māori names, harvesting locations, techniques, preparation methods, and cultural practices associated with these species. For example, there are over 100 Māori names for freshwater tuna (eels) alone, demonstrating the depth of traditional ecological knowledge.

A webpage version of this summary can be found here.