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WHARE TAONGA
SEED BANKING
SEED BANKING
WHARE TAONGA
Investing in our culture, identity, and future.
We believe that Māori must play a central role in the collection and storage of taonga seeds, including where they are collected, how they are stored, what protocols are employed, and what tikanga are observed in that process.
Our team is committed to establishing a Māori-owned seed bank and research centre and seed infrastructure across the country. Only by doing so can we maintain the sovereignty of our relations (the plants), our kai (food) and our tangata (people).
What is Seed Banking?
The Hub and Spoke Model
Te Tira Whakamātaki's vision for seed banking
Te Tira Whakamātaki envisions using a hub and spoke model to create sustainable and resilient seed banking infrastructure across Aotearoa. Think of a bicycle wheel!
Our short-term goal is to ensure our communities have access to basic seed equipment (seed drums) and skills to collect and store seeds at home or on the marae (locally). We also want to build small-scale seed labs across the country (regionally) so that hapū, Iwi and communities can build their seed conservation skills and store more difficult seeds close to home. These are the spokes of the wheel.
Long term, we have been busy designing a National Māori Seed Bank & Research Centre. This central seed bank, the hub, will employ mātauranga (Māori knowledge) to ensure our seeds are cared for in ways that align with our values and tikanga (protocols).
This model allows for numerous small seed collections to exist across the country and in communities that are actively working on the ground to manage their own taonga (treasured) seeds. It allows for seeds to stay at home for as long as they can and allows us to upskill our people at their place. It also makes it easier for communities to access their seeds when they need them. Importantly, it also ensures our communities have access to major facilities if they need additional support, storage space, research etc.
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