Maori Gardening

Summary

The Polynesian ancestors of the Maori brought with them long-established gardening traditions and techniques when they settled New Zealand in about AD 1250–1300. There is archaeological evidence of the continuation of Polynesian gardening practices in New Zealand and adaptations of gardening techniques to suit the local environment. Cultigens were important sources of sustenance for the Maori alongside fishing and gathering, and played a major role in exchange relations with other groups. Later, European cultigens were incorporated into Maori agriculture and exchange systems. In the first half of the 19th century, the sales of vegetables formed the basis of the Maori commercial economy.

Gardening provided essential carbohydrates when there was little other wild food, and was supplemented by gathering and fishing. Though much archaeological evidence of gardening exists, the extent to which their cultivated crops provided a staple food has been questioned (Shawcross 1967; Leach 2000). Seasonal crop failures and political unrest resulted in fluctuations in the supply of crops for the Maori. Cultivated food was not a consistent dietary staple, though it was an important cultural aspect of Maori ceremonial life.

Archaeological Evidence of Maori Gardening

Stone Structures Stone rows and mounds are the most visible evidence of gardening. Stone structures are found on soils around volcanic cones, on old raised beach ridges, weathered fans, or alluvial terraces and river flats where weathered gravels are exposed on or near the surface.

Ditches and Channels blehbleh

Garden Soils blehbleh

Taro Locations etc etc

Cultigens

Kumara (Sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas) was the most extensively grown Maori cultigen in New Zealand. Unimportant in most of tropical Polynesia--with the exception of Easter Island where it was a principal crop--Kumara may have attained primary crop status in New Zealand due to its fast maturation and greater tolerance of New Zealand's dry and cool climate

Taro