Published: 12 September 2024
A group of 30 rangatahi (young people) spent a week re-planting harakeke (flax) along Waiwhetū stream at Hutt Park as part of their Te Rito Maioha (TRM) training course in August.
A group of rangatahi from the TRM Training programme at Hutt Park.
TRM Training is a programme for rangatahi at Wainuiomata Marae offering a 10-week course covering financial literacy, first aid, an in-water survival certificate with Boating New Zealand, raranga (weaving), hauora (fitness), whakairao (carving), job experience and more.
Their name Te Rito Maioha is appropriate for a harakeke planting project, as the “rito” refers to the central shoot/baby of the harakeke plant, and "maioha," means to appreciate. The course has a Te Ao Māori lens but has successfully integrated rangatahi from diverse backgrounds around the Wellington region, including Māori, Pacifica and Afghani families.
Manager Mere Puketapu says participants study a Level 4 certificate Te Pou Hono ki Toi at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, which for some of the rangatahi is their only qualification. “They’ve either dropped out of school or haven’t even been to school, so getting a Level 4 certificate is really huge for them.”
At Hutt Park, the rangatahi spent five days clearing paa harakeke, prepping the field then splitting the harakeke into individual whaanau and then replanting them alongside Waiwhetū stream, helping to increase biodiversity of the area and protect the road from stream overflows. “This is a whole week of work experience for them which is just awesome,” says Mere.
Hutt City Council Neighbourhood Manager Hiria Davies says the project aligns with Council’s approach of community-led partnerships. “By partnering with TRM Training, we have supported an initiative that fosters resilience, skill-building, and cultural enrichment among youth.
“The success of this project has sparked the idea of creating a work experience programme with the Parks and Reserves team, through partnering with contractors such as Downers and Mexteds. The week-long harakeke planting project is a shining example of how innovative thinking and collaboration with mana whenua can transform challenges into opportunities,” says Hiria.
Symphony Muldrock-Tolai and Maewa Mahan-Rihari.
The harakeke has been planted in a triangle shape called Kaokao, a pattern that appears on the tukutuku panels of Te Atiawa’s marae. “Kaokao is at every corner of our whare in Waiwhetū and Wainuiomata and represents the shape the armpit takes when a mother's breastfeeding her child. So, it represents the first connection,” she says.
The planting contributed 500 new harakeke planted towards Council’s Mouri Tupu: Planting for the Future goal to plant a native for every Lower Hutt citizen.
The boys were hard at work splitting the harakeke while the girls were busy sorting and replanting. Aiden Harris and Deziah Te Kira, both 16 from Wainuiomata said it was hard work but one of their best activities yet.
Te Whetu Deyzjahn Teepa and Miharo Snowden from Waiwhetū and Wellington said it gave them something to do, and Symphony Muldrock-Tolai said she enjoyed getting active.
TRM recently won a Prime Minister's scholarship for a six-week indigenous arts and cultural exchange in Japan, where they will travel the country running whatu and taniko workshops with local communities including a partnership with Lower Hutt’s city sister, Minoh. “We're going to be making cloaks with all the different communities of Japan, and then bring it back and gift that cloak to Minoh house,” Mere says.
To support TRM’s fundraiser to Japan, follow them via their Facebook page.