@black44robin: Tewha Rā! (Day 4) o ta wiki o ta rē Moriori We interview Susan Thorpe about the recently released book Manaka Mai, and how it ties consciously into ta rē. Some words from Susan: Manaka Mai – the book This book, launched on Rēkohu in April 2026, is a celebration of plants native to our islands, and aims to generate wonder and enquiry.  Surprisingly, and despite the curiosity of botanists and the zeal of collectors, no comprehensive book illustrating Rēkohu island plants has ever been produced.    In keeping with Moriori values, the book is highly collaborative with: four authors; an artist – Patricia Thorpe; publisher – Roger Steele and peer reviewer - botanist Dr Peter de Lange.  Its title comes from the beautiful karakii Moriori, ‘Tira Koko’, which is an ancient incantation for the planting of a tree.  Hirawanu Tapu wrote:  “the tree was first laid on the head of a child before planting, and it was afterwards called te tira o mea (the tree of such a one)”.   Plants are essential to our survival and well-being and yet for many of us, so little is known about them.  This ‘plant blindness’ usually extends only to having some peripheral knowledge of why plants are useful to us (we should eat more greens) - but seldom reaches past myopic blur into traditional knowledge, cultural uses or what the relationships particular plants have with other species.  This book is intended to lift veil on that indifference to plants around us and reveal their unique characters; their plant identity and characteristics.  It helps us think about what the trees want.   Ta Rē Moriori:  the book consciously privileges Moriori tukupa (words) and has deliberately emphasised Moriori names for the plants.  Understanding a name for a species helps what nature intended for that species or place.  One salient example is hakapiri (Shawia traversorium) which is a tree daisy native to Rēkohu.  For decades it has been mistakenly called Akeake.  It’s important now to restore its original name and during ta wiki o ta rē Moriori perhaps we can learn more names for our special plants?   I offered to edit this book partly as a celebration of the 200 hectare Manukau restoration project (Hokinga Mai Kā Manu).  The book is a child of that bigger vision to revitalise the ecology and create sanctuaries for our native shore-birds.  I am an archaeologist and work at Te Papa in the repatriation team but for the last decade have worked alongside Māui to grow and plant trees at Manukau (now 160,000 in the henu) 🌱 #moriori #rekohu #moriorilanguageweek #manakamai #firstdawnproductions

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Thursday 15 October 2026 04:54:39 GMT