Kānuka and whānau of the Whareponga Valley – He taonga kē te ngahere team
July 2021
Kānuka is a taonga species. Endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand, this plant (also known as Kunzea ericoides) is part of the myrtaceae family and is commonly found along forest margins and lowland and mountain scrub.
Growing up to 30 metres in height, kānuka often serve an important function in regenerating native forest, by providing shelter from wind and shade from sun for other fledging plants.
Although nicknamed ‘tea tree’ by Captain Cook, due to the leaves being used for brewing tea, kānuka was prized by Māori for its utility well before the arrival of European settlers.
This treasured species of plant continues to serve many uses for Māori communities today. Some of these uses are documented in this Storymap, which details the value and meaning kānuka has for a specific whānau Māori in the valley of Whareponga, Aotearoa New Zealand.