Story: Māori

Working in the kūmara plantation

Working in the kūmara plantation

In addition to hunting, Māori developed horticultural techniques. In this historical reconstruction drawn by Russell Clark in 1955 for educational purposes, we see two Māori men using the kō, or digging stick, to turn over gardens and prepare them for planting, while a woman cultivates the soil with a form of hoe. In the background a woman plants the sweet potato or kūmara.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: B-023-017
Pen and ink drawing by Russell Stuart Clark

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, 'Māori - Pre-European society', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/2518/working-in-the-kumara-plantation (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal