enhancing food security and physical activity for maori, pacific and ...

Enhancing Food Security and Physical Activity for Māori, Pacific and Low-income PeoplesAquaculture development has special relevance to Māori because of the allocation ofaquaculture space to coastal iwi. The equivalent of 20 percent of all aquaculture spacecreated between September 1992 and December 2004, under the previous legislation,must be allocated to those coastal iwi recognised in the Māori Fisheries Act 2004. Anynew space created after the aquaculture reforms will automatically have 20 percentallocated to iwi. 12As well as the development of aquaculture in the coastal marine area, iwi are alsoinvolved in land-based aquaculture. As an example of development in this area, theHongoeka Development Trust is working with NIWA on a land-based polyculture for localMāori in Plimmerton. Polyculture is the concept of growing two or more complementaryspecies together, as opposed to aquaculture which involves the propagation and rearingof a single aquatic species The joint project has enabled the local iwi to investigate alow-cost way for coastal Māori to engage in land-based polyculture. To date the primaryspecies grown in Plimmerton have been paua and karengo (edible seaweed). Once thefacility is established, NIWA and the Hongoeka Development Trust plan to run a trainingcourse at Plimmerton.HorticultureTraditionally, gardening played an important role in providing Māori with cultivatedvegetables, namely, kumara, uwhi (yams), taro and hue (gourds). Europeans introducedmany new food crops, significantly, the potato which was grown both for food and fortrading with settlers. 6Massey University, together with the Māori grower collective, are currently investigatingthe place of taewa (Māori potatoes) in future Māori economic development. Theresurgence of taewa is partly due to burgeoning interest in indigenous food, nationallyand internationally; the interest from Māori growers themselves; and the potential torestore or build on a body of knowledge currently held by Māori horticulturists. 14ConclusionThe role of iwi/pan tribal organisations in enhancing food security for Māori through thedevelopment of traditional Māori food sources is an area for future consideration andresearch by iwi/pan tribal organisations and the Crown. This paper suggests that it offerspotential to enhance food security and economic development for Māori.RecommendationsIt is recommended that:• funding is allocated to research into the role of iwi and pan tribal organisations infood security and economic development through the development of traditionalMāori food sources,• the Crown engages with iwi and pan tribal organisations about how developmentof traditional food-related projects can be supported,• iwi and pan tribal organisations further investigate opportunities to developtraditional food-related projects to enhance food security and economicdevelopment.82