2026-10-06T05:33:32Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34018512 2026-09-28T23:15:41Z category_28216 item_type_12 month_year_09_2026

Ngā Mata o Tāne: Valued native tree characteristics and cultural practices through the lens of traditional kaiwhakairo rākau (Māori wood carvers) and ringa kohi kākano (seed collectors) in Aotearoa New Zealand Lisa Langer (25118985) Ki-Taurangi Bradford (23935663) Lania Holt (15402449) Nukutaiāwhiorangi Waipoua (25133429) Te ahuwhenua me ngā mahi ngahere o te Māori (Māori agriculture and forestry) Mātauranga Māori tōtara Rākau ngahere Technology <p dir="ltr">A comprehensive engagement process of interviews, surveys and wānanga (workshops) with 45 participants in 2023-24 has broadened our understanding of how kaiwhakairo rākau (traditional Māori wood carvers) and ringa kohi kākano (seed collectors) select and value native rākau (tree/wood) species while upholding cultural practices in Aotearoa New Zealand.</p><p dir="ltr">Kaiwhakairo rākau consistently emphasised the importance of using native species, with a strong cultural and practical preference for tōtara (Podocarpus totara). Ecological and cultural considerations provided the underlying foundation of kohi kākano (seed collection) decisions. Both communities of practice favoured the adoption of emerging technologies to identify suitable non-diseased standing or fallen rākau.</p><p dir="ltr">This knowledge provides valuable insights into the characteristics of native rākau prized for whakairo (carving) and kohi kākano with associated cultural practices. This will guide the development of new phenotyping tools to support harvesting kākano and rākau in culturally informed and inclusive ways, ensuring the sustainability of future cultural uses of native rākau.</p> 2026-09-28T23:15:41Z Text Preprint 10.6084/m9.figshare.34018512.v2 https://figshare.com/articles/preprint/Ng_Mata_o_T_ne_Valued_native_tree_characteristics_and_cultural_practices_through_the_lens_of_traditional_kaiwhakairo_r_kau_M_ori_wood_carvers_and_ringa_kohi_k_kano_seed_collectors_in_Aotearoa_New_Zealand/34018512 CC BY 4.0