Maara Kai – From Garden To Plate – On Maori TV

PUBLICITY RELEASE

FRIDAY MARCH 20 2009

Maara Kai – From Garden To Plate – On Maori Television!

There was a time when it was commonplace for New Zealand families to grow their own produce and eat from their gardens.

In these tightening economic times, MAARA KAI is a new series that looks at ways families can restore that connection between the garden and the plate, and premieres on Maori Television on Sunday April 12 at 5.00 PM.

“Many of us come from parents or grandparents who gardened, or used what was available to feed the family, and this is a way of life that still appeals to many people,” says MAARA KAI producer Te Hira Henderson. “Many people want to be more sustainable and self-sufficient in how they eat and feed their families. This show encourages people who are keen to make changes to go out and do it.”

MAARA KAI – eating from the garden – has two presenters, each with their area of expertise.

Riki Bennett is a long-time ranger who grew up learning about the bounty of the forest, and with particular interest in rongoa – traditional Maori medicine.

Rewi Spraggon is a trained chef with a passion for indigenous cuisine. He says:

”We see lots of people using certain ingredients, but they don’t know what it looks like in the bush. Many don’t realise the implications of what they’re using.

“For example, the horopito – which is like chilli – was traditionally used to improve heart function. If you knew what you were doing, you might match that up with gamey-type foods, or to counteract products that are higher in cholesterol.”

The programme also profiles people who are already creating their own produce on their own land, from orchardists to honey farms and organic vegetable growers.

MAARA KAI is made by White Gloves Productions, the makers of popular gardening show KIWI MAARA.

Be inspired to reconnect with healthy food, from our gardens to our plates – MAARA KAI premieres on Sunday April 12 at 5.00 PM.

ABOUT MAARA KAI PRESENTERS:

Rewi Spraggon (Ngati Hine, Ngati Maniapoto) lives at Bethells Beach. He has trained as a chef, but reckons he’s learned more from his time living in Tahiti, among some amazing indigenous chefs - and his mum.

“I’m keeping the recipes simple, but pretty flash too. We’ll just make a dish out of anything. It really depends on the product, as every week it changes.”

Spraggon loves Pacific Rim indigenous type foods, and has won a world title that attests to that – World Indigenous BBQ Champion 2005, held in Hawaii.

Watch out for such interesting kai as his manuka honey kina pizza, kamokamo chutney, berry jam and toroi – mussel and puha salad. Not forgetting Rewi’s eel and cabbage tree dish: “Hey mate, we were brought up on it.”

Riki Bennett (The Cascades)

This is his first time presenting, but Bennett already has a public profile, thanks to his interest in taonga puoro – traditional Maori music, and as a ranger.

He says his wide range of interests and skills is reflected in the way the programme has been put together: “We composed the opening number for the show, and most of the music all the way through. We’ve been a one-stop shop really. Not many presenters can do the whole thing.”

Bennett believes MAARA KAI will be relevant to any viewer interested in making a few lifestyle changes.

“I guess it’s about encouraging people to grow their own kai, to be self-sustainable, and to teach them about the forest and how it was used in past times, and even in modern times.”

He is knowledgeable about rongoa –traditional Maori medicine – but also practical survival tips.

Key to the series is the way Spraggon and Bennett bounce off each other.

The pair are long-time friends and associates who have both been deeply involved in the revival of taonga puoro –traditional Maori music.

“We always give each other a bit of grief, but we’re never apart for more than three weeks,” says Spraggon.

ENDS

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