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Story: Conservation – a history

Māori garden

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Māori garden

Areas of Māori cultivation are widespread on the south Wairarapa coast. Stone walls (the horizontal lines, centre) were built in the late 15th century to shelter kūmara (sweet potato). The dark green stands of trees are karaka groves, and the isolated trees are tī kōuka (cabbage trees).

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10051763

by Kevin Jones

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How to cite this page

Simon Nathan, Conservation – a history – Māori conservation traditions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13902/maori-garden (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Simon Nathan, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.