The new Whakaata Māori show is a mix of practical tips, heartfelt kōrero and mātauranga Māori.
In 2009, the late Moana Jackson was speaking to a crowd at Aotearoa’s national addiction conference about research on Māori: “A clear and objective analysis of our society would’ve shown that the book [Once Were Warriors] could have more properly been called Once Were Gardeners.”
While the comment drew laughs from the crowd, Jackson’s point was a pertinent one. The idea of Māori as a “warrior race” had gained prominence, but Māori were also, among other things, a race of prolific gardeners. An intense appreciation and understanding of the natural world had led to Māori accumulating generations of practical gardening knowledge and skills. This mātauranga was passed down through the years, until the advent of colonisation and western practices severely limited its transmission.
Now, with the early summer flowers blooming and gardens beginning to bear fruit, Whakaata Māori has released a new show focussed on Māori methods of gardening in the modern era. Once Were Gardeners is an eight-part series aiming to highlight Māori gardening knowledge and methods in different settings around the country. Each episode provides unique indigenous insights and shares traditional knowledge specific to regions and iwi across Aotearoa.
Hosted by Kara Rickard, the 30-minute episodes are akin to Country Calendar, giving viewers an insight into a range of gardens and the lives of those that tend to them. The format is long enough to provide an understanding of the nuances of every garden, without dragging on too long or becoming repetitive. With Rickard having recently returned to her papakainga in Whaingaroa and taking up an interest in māra kai, she has the perfect balance of lived experience and genuine curiosity to guide viewers through each garden.
The people are a highlight. Rangitikei gardener Meretini Beennett-Huxtable inherited a lot of her gardening knowledge from her ancestors. Ricco Tito recently moved to the Hokianga with his partner and established a large market garden under the guidance of local tohunga such as Rereata Makiha.
Once Were Gardeners profilers Māori gardeners from around Aotearoa. (Image: Supplied).
Each episode starts with Rickard meeting the gardeners and exploring their māra, learning more about what they grow, their tips and tricks, where their mātauranga comes from, and what gardening provides them. There are common themes – the intrinsic value of a healthy māra, the importance of being attuned to the taiao and the vast amount of knowledge our ancestors held.
With every episode based in a different part of Aotearoa, director of photography Tom Fowlie does a great job of capturing the beauty of the locations. High aerial shots from drones, wide landscape shots and close-up details of native bush and running waterways immerse you in the various settings. The authenticity of the kōrero from the likes of Tito, who speaks openly about gardening being a form of rongoā for him as he recovers from addiction, makes Once Were Gardeners more than just another gardening show.
Besides the heartfelt kōrero, this show is made for gardeners. Each episode has a mix of practical tips and explanations of gardening theory that even the greenest thumb can learn from. In just the first two episodes, there are guides on everything from brewing your own kina juice and seaweed fertiliser to making biochar, planting kūmara tipu and even the best way to grow your own watercress. Without giving too much away, there is kōrero tuku iho shared on some surprise crops that Kupe brought with him to Aotearoa, some kūmara being better suited for babies and old people due to having a softer texture, and the best ways to harvest native tree seeds.
Once Were Gardeners effortlessly entwines te reo Māori throughout. Rickard and those she speaks with all include phrases in each episode and while efforts to meet the language percentage quota on a funding application can sometimes feel forced, the use of reo Māori in Once Were Gardeners feels natural, particularly given the subject matter being discussed. Just watching the first two episodes, I learnt the reo Māori names for different types of kūmara, rongoā and parts of the māra.
Overall, Once Were Gardeners is more than a lighthearted gardening show with a Māori flavour. It is a deep dive into the esoterical knowledge of our ancestors, with some honest kōrero and practical tips for any gardener. For me, the hardest part of watching Once Were Gardeners was thinking of the once lush garden I left behind in Northland for the concrete streets of South Auckland. Besides that, I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone with even a slight interest in gardening or Māori views of the taiao.
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