The Mauao Seed Saving Project – Step 1

We started a very special project this month, one that we shared with our other PiPS member schools. In conjunction with the Mauao Trust, who are kaitiaki of Mauao, PiPS is going to harvest seeds from trees and plants growing on Mauao, raise the seedlings and then when they are ready, plant them back on Mauao.

Tikanga dictates that you can’t just go and take vegetation from Mauao, so to have been given permission to work with the Mauao Trust on this whakatakanga is a great honour.

Luckily we had kaumatua Jack Thatcher from the Mauao Trust, Josh the Mauao DoC ranger and Whaea Tess, our facilitator from some of the other PiPS schools, to guide us with the seed collecting.

Our work began at the start of May. Some of us combined with kids from other PiPS schools on Sunday morning at the base of Mauao. Kaumatua Jack took us to a spot where he believes was a traditional area for growing and weaving harekeke, blessed the mahi we were undertaking, and talked to us about the history of the maunga, and the changes the Trust envisions. Their mission is to “protect and preserve the mauri of Mauao; and to ensure the natural, physical and cultural integrity of Mauao is maintained”. We definitely want to help with that!

Kaumatua Jack explains the history of the area we are going to help to regenerate.

Marie, Heidi, Whaea Tess and Whaea Clare, from PiPS.

We made our way gradually up the maunga, stopping to collect seed along the way. Different plants produce different types of seed and have different methods of distributing them. Some make tiny parachutes, like dandelions, relying on the wind to drift them away. Others make little helicopters, like sycamores. Others encase their seeds in tasty berries, so birds will do the distribution for them.

We had to make sure we were harvesting ripe, dry seeds. We collected them in paper bags, remembering to label them carefully.

It was a great adventure. Not only did we collect lots of seeds but we learned so much about the maunga. Now we’re inspired and excited for the next step of the project.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and Whaea Tess came to help us start the propogation. First up we sorted our seeds and learned about the best way to plant each type. Then we got to work. Ms Hunt will keep our seed trays on her balcony and make sure they are kept safe and watered. We’re excited to see what happens next!