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Pasifika@Canterbury Postgraduate Symposium 28 September 2010 Project title: A case study on customary harvesting practices in contemporary New Zealand Peter Bosip Contents • • • • • • What is customary food? Rationale & Research Question Methods/Theoretical Approach Preliminary findings Issues/Challenges Sustaining the practice WHAT IS CUSTOMARY FOOD? • In Canada (country food), Australia (bush tucker) & New Zealand (mahinga kai) • All refers to the traditional diets or any food native to Aboriginal people (the First Nations, Metis, Inuit, Aboriginal, Maori), and use as sustenance by the inhabitants (Wein, et al.,1990 ; Young, 1995). Rationale & Research Question • Issues on customary food gathering globally (Young, 1995; Woodley, et al., 2006) • Customary value decline in PNG (Urban-Rural migration) • Age old practice by Maori (McDowall, 1994; Anderson, 1998; Goodall, 2001) • changes and challenges to harvesting practices, transferring of skills to younger generation • What are the challenges facing contemporary Ngai Tahu in their quest to continue and pass on customary food gathering practices? Methods/Theoretical Approach • Qualitative (following guides provided by Hay (2005) and Tolich & Davidson (1999). • Data collection: interview, observe and participate in gathering trips • Participants: six Ngai Tahu families Papatipu Runanga Map Preliminary findings: Example 1 Key A:- Participating family B:- Month of the year C:- Commonly harvested food D:- Gathering sites Example 2: Seasonal food gathering calendar Aug-Oct Key TeWhe Philips (A) A:- Participating family (B) (C) (D) B:- Month of the year C:- Commonly harvested food D:- Gathering sites Some changes in tools, transportation and communication Tools Communication Transportation Past Present Past Present Past Present wooden spears Spears made of steel word of mouth mobile phones waka (Canoe) Car hinaiki (net made of vine Fyke Nets (Tuna) & Set nets (whitebaits) emails walking Boat Human (forming scrum) Wire cage Helicopter hand Plugging machine Kayak Wooden spike steel spike (tuna) Issues/Challenges • Quota on customary food sold on commercial basis…need to pay mortgage (Craig Pauling) • Lake pollution and species decline (Craig Pauling) • Crown restrict local Maori to harvest/collect on sites (Te Whe Philips) • Lack of interest to support by marriage partners (Te Whe Philips) • Young population want food from supermarkets (Trevor Howse) Sustaining the practice? • ‘Want my grandchildren to get fully involved as I am still learning and so my children’ (Craig Pauling). • ‘mahinga kai gathering has been part of our lives throughout generations and we continue to transfer skills and knowledge to younger generations with our hope to ensure our age old practice is sustained’ (Te Whe Philips). Any questions or comments?