With Matariki quickly approaching, Manawa Honey and its founder, the Tuawhenua Trust, have introduced the Matariki Ahunga Nui hampers for 2024.
CEO Brenda Tahi said that these hampers provided a convenient feast experience for people to enjoy quality time with their loved ones while celebrating Matariki.
"We take pride in the effort that goes into creating these hampers—from sourcing from the forests of Te Urewera, harvesting produce from our home gardens and orchards in Ruatahuna, and exchanging Manawa Honey for foods from other regions,” said Tahi.
"We have incorporated Manawa Honey into various items, such as sweet dishes, chutneys, relishes, and steamed puddings. The hamper also contains special foods like home-grown pork, venison sausages, smoked tuna and fish, stuffing, pumpkin soup, condiments, home-grown tawa (Maori potato), limes, and much more."
The goals for this initiative include reviving traditional practices - trading goods and building relationships across iwi and regions, following customs like koha and reciprocity, and engaging in food cultivation, harvesting, and preparation practices.
This aligns with the Tuawhenua Trust's objective to promote food sovereignty in Ruatahuna - developing skills for obtaining food from the wild or through cultivation and learning how to preserve it for future use.
All proceeds from the hampers will benefit the Tuawhenua Forest Fund, which was established by the Tuawhenua Trust in 2022 to restore and improve the indigenous forest around Ruatāhuna.
The Trust manages 9000 hectares of forest, comprising 25 blocks of land owned by Ruatahuna, separate from Te Urewera Park. These forests require ongoing initiatives to address the impact of introduced pests and other challenges and cannot solely rely on government assistance.
"The Matariki Ahunga Nui hamper is not just about food and its origin; it also symbolises our connection to the environment, our bond with our communities, and our relationships with one another."
