The Hua Parakore Waka Sets Sail

The Hua Parakore Waka Sets Sail

Press Release, for immediate release

Te Waka Kai Ora (Maori Organics Aotearoa)

July 19th 2011. 9.30am

Nearly a hundred guests packed into Turnball House in Wellington to celebrate the launch of Hua Parakore, the world’s first indigenous Maori verification system to create Kai Atua- pure healthy kai. The date for the ceremony, Thursday the 14th of July during Matariki, marked a time of reflection and of new beginnings.

Te Waka Kai Ora (Maori Organics Aotearoa), with the relentless tautoko (support) from whanau, growers, sponsors and organisations, was proud to officially unveil the Hua Parakore tohu (label), and ceremonially return it to tangata whenua.

Hua Parakore is awarded to producers whose production and tikanga (cultural practices) are GE, nano, pesticide and chemical free, and who can assure product purity and integrity at all times. Enhancing the cultural, spiritual, social, economic and health outcomes for Maori is at the heart of Hua Parakore, and Te Waka Kai Ora is also working with Maori community groups and marae in developing mahinga kai (gardens) to encourage self-sufficiency and wellbeing.

The launch included a range of prestigious speakers. Dr Jessica Hutchings (Kaiarahi for Te Waka Kai Ora) spoke eloquently about the process and the underlying philosophies and agendas of Hua Parakore, Percy Tipene (Chair of Te Waka Kai Ora) gave profound and humour filled korero on its origins and what it means for Maori, and several growers shared what it means to them to wear the prestigious korowai (cloak) of Hua Parakore. The guests were wowed by the beautiful spread of ‘fusion’ kai which showcased several Hua Parakore verified products, including a Biofarm Yogurt tart.

The launch was both symbolic and practical, and provided an opportunity for Te Waka Kai Ora to karakia and present the resources they have produced to support whanau and organisations in the journey to become Hua Parakore verified.

Following the launch Te Waka Kai Ora welcomed its fourth Hua Parakore verified grower onto the waka. A group of fifty whanau and varied organisation members spent Saturday touring the whenua at Papawhakaritorito in Kaitoke with Jessica Hutchings and Lydia Mabbett. The group explored the kaupapa (philosophies) that underlie their interactions, and the tikanga (cultural practices) that they implement in their mahinga kai (gardens and farm). At the end, all present participated in the whakapūmau process by signing the verification form, acknowledging the importance of whanau and community in the Hua Parakore process.

“Receiving the Hua Parakore korowai is a huge honour and we take very seriously the need to up hold the integrity of the korowai through continuing to produce hua that is GE, nano, chemical and pesticide free. It is fantastic as tangata whenua to be acknowledged for upholding the tikanga of our Tupuna in the production of Hua Parakore and we are very excited to be able to support other Maori organic growers into the Hua Parakore system”, says Jessica Hutchings (Ngai Tahu, Ngati Huirapa).

Te Waka Kai Ora are confident that their inclusive kaupapa is relevant to Maori and their diverse aspirations, and as more growers jump on to the waka, the forward momentum is only going to accelerate. Its relevance is set to expand with an analysis underway of the application of Hua Parakore to the aquaculture, apiary and dairy farming sectors.

ENDS

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