Karakia whakawaatea o Te Pae o Manukau Food Forest whenua

On Thursday 30th May, before dawn at approx 5.30am, we had the honour of having Mana Whenua open Te Pae o Manukau Food Forest with a Karakia Whakawaatea.

All gathered around the fire while Therese shares words, Mana whenua in orange hi-vis

A karakia whakawaatea can be seen as a spiritual blessing and clearing of space. Making the path forward free, lifting restrictions, uncovering the way for a safe journey, in this case it was to clear the whenua before starting any physical mahi on it.

There was a fire going by the Boundary whare and another out on the whenua of the food forest site, close to the lonely Tītoki tree, that all our waka plants and fruit trees yet to be planted, huddled around. We were amazed by the amount of people of all walks who gathered with us so early in the morning in support of this kai resilience vision many years in the making.

When the time came, Mana whenua led us through our Hue waka in a trail, right through the gated fence, then circling the edge of the whenua following one another all the way round until we reach the ‘pito’ which we have mentally marked as around the Tītoki.

In the calm breath of Tāwhirimātea and under a blanket of stars, we united in waiata māori, karakia, and few shared words of tautoko, growing up in Ōtara and what this project means to them and what this will mean for the neighbourhood.

KaiWaka co-leads Ana and Destiny went around with bowls of our compost made onsite at Boundary, giving each person a single teaspoon. To hold that compost full of life in their hands and speak to it any intentions and aspirations for this food forest to be, then sprinkle it on the whenua. A small act marking their contribution to the ngāhere kai - the first ones to enrich the soil with not just compost, but their best wishes.

As light approached the horizon, Therese got us all warmed up and grooving with a fun dance game acknowledging the key navigational points - Raki North, Tonga South, Whitinga East and Tomokanga West. Solidifying this will be a fond memory for most.

It was an incredibly wholesome morning of connection and replenishment of the wairua. We wish to thank all who came. And to our Manurewa students, neighbourhood home bakers, local volunteers, Auckland council and local board for helping us to pull this together. On behalf of PVA, we thank you. Together, we are nurturing a future that has the power to feed, educate, inspire and strengthen our people which is so desperately needed. We are remembering who we are - we are people who thrive in villages, in community.

Now the path is clear and restrictions are lifted, planting dates are coming soon.

Follow our local Facebook group for Boundary to keep updated: “Lets Grow Boundary”

Watch our reel to see snippets of this significant morning here.