New garden puts down roots as community support blossoms

The first plants at Marlborough’s newest community garden are those acknowledging the past, present and future of the land.

Waitohi Picton Community Garden members invited Kevin and Philip Sim to be the first to plant a tree in recognition of their family’s connection to the land.

Well-wishers gathered on Tuesday morning as the pair planted an Olive tree, dedicated by Philip in acknowledgement of his mother of the same name, who formerly owned the land.

“Thank you so much to the Garden for the awesome koha of the Olive tree, in memory of my mother as my family will be so thrilled on that, Philip said.

“Keep up the awesome work both Amy and Ailie with a team of many, as I am sure there will be a massive following of this project.”

Representatives of Te Ātiawa, alongside students from Waikawa Bay School, Picton School and Queen Charlotte College students also broke ground in honour of the special day.

A Karamū from Kaipupu Point representing Te Ātiawa was planted, alongside a Feijoa tree for Waikawa Bay School and a harakeke flax grown on the slopes above Waikawa Marae representing Picton School.

“We're really excited for the first plants to be put into the soil and have asked each group to choose a plant of significance to them that they can plant and that will be treasured for years to come”, says Waitohi Picton Community Garden spokesperson Amy Healey.

“We will have a different community event at a later stage with council and community once the garden has started to take shape but today is an important first step, before we do anything on the whenua.”

Te Ātiawa planted a Karamu plant, used as a food source and in infusions to treat ailments such as kidney, bladder and stomach issues and with spiritual significance from Tohi and Pure rites.

The Karamu being planted was grown from seed sourced from Kaipupu Point by Picton Dawn Chorus.

Envirohub Marlborough's Ailie Suzuki says Tuesday’s planting was about the community, both past and present.

"Today is for the people who got us to where we are now, and it's may just be a field now, but this is about both feeding local stomachs with grown food and minds with knowledge of the history of this land.

Te Ātiawa chose Karamu due to its iwi significance - before warriors to war, karamu used as spiritual shrub for blessing before sent away, not done since WW2 but want to reintroduce where we can.”

Piripiri gathered from the mountain were also planted next to the chosen plants to symbolically connect and assist the plants in growing.

Sharleen Maniapoto of Te Ātiawa says it was important to support the first planting.

“Te Ātiawa is definitely here to support the mahi behind what's happening on the whenua here.”