Lincoln University Digital Dissertation - Lincoln University Research ...

hospitality and kindness to others. A key part of manaakitanga is showing
hospitality to visitors. In most cases this occurs through the offering and
preparation of kai and a place to stay. Growers described the opportunities
taewa provide, allowing growers to make a uniquely ‘Maori’ contribution:
“We use a bit for the marae and give half of it away; you know what Maoris
are like.” (Grower 2)
“…it helps to sustain their marae you know when they have hui and other
guests as well as supplying other marae up the river.” (Grower 2)
“Most of what we have grown over the years we have sold… to offset some of
our costs, but a lot of ours will [also] help the marae for their catering side.
Most of them are for their catering because a lot of the maraes have a lot of
people coming through every year so that offsets some of their costs for
buying vegetables and stuff.” (Grower 2)
“We had a farm so we’d grow for our own relations plus the marae and
ourselves, we would probably have a vegetable garden of a couple of acres
annually.” (Grower 3)
“Some of the older kaumatuas, the older people grow it [taewa] at their marae
which is sort of a focal point, and when you go there you all bring something.
So they don’t have to think twice about what am I going to take for this hui?
They always supply the taewa for the kai… It’s unique to a Maori occasion to
supply Maori food.” (Grower 5)
“I had quite a few, sufficient to share out with the whanau and the wider
whanau rather than just keeping it in the house here… I share it out and give
it to the old people and whoever wants it, if I’m digging a row and someone
turns up well they can help themselves.” (Grower 6)
“I like to share it with the old people and we do have a few old people round
here and even if you give them say five or six at any time with only two in the
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