Rob Tipa Workshops 14 March 2020
As part of Heritage Month 2020 we held two workshops with Rob Tipa – author of “Treasures of Tane” – Plants of Ngai Tahu.
Chris introduced Rob and also Estelle Leask and Brian Rance - all passionate and knowledgeable advocates for native plants.
Rob began by explaining his whakapapa and his early days of putting together, as a journalist, the stories associated with the native plants of Ngai Tahu. The articles for Te Karaka magazine eventually became the book “Treasures of Tane”.
Out in the wetland, Rob’s enthusiasm was infectious as he went from story to story about “survival plants”, moving on to food and medicinal plants and those used for materials such as clothing, bags, building materials – he described wetlands as a supermarket for early maori people – many plants had a use and for many a special way of preparing them. Under the Ti kouka tree Rob explained the uses, and as with harakeke – the view that how could you live without them. Moving on around the wetland lacebark, ribbonwood, raupo and bracken fern uses were discussed, then the mighty trees totara, rimu, matai, miro, kahikatea – then back to the Education centre for practical weaving session and making poha kelp bags.
There is a great video of Tiny Metzger making poha at the following link http://www.maoritube.co.nz/people/poha-bull-kelp-bags-ngai-tahu-mahinga-kai/
Thanks to Rob for sharing the stories with great humility and for his enthusiasm and fun – everyone really enjoyed the day. Thanks to Heritage South for putting together a great programme of events for Heritage Month 2020 – see more events at https://www.facebook.com/HeritageSouthNZ
Chris
Posted: 16 March 2020