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Māori medicines take first step

Shilpy Arora

Students at a Manawatū high school are learning about traditional Māori medicinal plants by growing them first hand.

Rain didn’t dampen the spirits of about 20 students of Feilding High School who put on their gumboots, took up shovels and braved the wet yesterday to plant rare native medicinal plants in their school reserve.

It is part of a project being rolled out by native forest restoration adviser and conservationist Gavin Scott to develop a rongoā (traditional Māori medicine) area at the school reserve.

The aim is to restore native plantations and pass on the knowledge about traditional Māori medicines to the next generation.

‘‘We will try to revive the native forest and create a living classroom in the forest,’’ Scott said.

‘‘Amassive amount of planting is being carried out, and there will be ongoing maintenance for the project.

‘‘Manawatū is one of the regions in Aotearoa that has lost most of its native forest. It is, therefore, crucial to educate the young generation about the native plants and their importance for the region.’’

More than 500 plants of about 30 different native species have been planted at the school reserve.

Student Dean Hartstone, 16, recalled how his father would treat plant stings using traditional medicine. ‘‘When I was a kid, one day I was stung by a stinging nettle. My dad wrapped it with dock leaves and the sting just went away. That made me understand the importance of traditional medicine.’’

Grace Boustridge, head of Feilding High’s environment committee, said she got excited as soon as she heard about the project. ‘‘We had only heard about the traditional Māori medicinal plants. Planting them ourselves provides a totally different experience and makes usmore aware about the region’s native species.’’

Student Sian Hardie, 17, said it was a special project as it would teach them to take care of rare native plants. ‘‘I think if the students are educated about native plants, this area has a lot of potential to grow as a native forest in the middle of the town.’’

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2022-08-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

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