Taonga species reintroduced to Te Tauihu
Together with Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Koata and Ngāti Toa, we welcomed the return of the taonga species Te Pua o te Rēinga (Dactylanthus taylorii) to Te Tauihu at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
Whānau from Ngāti Toa & Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai & Ngā Manu Nature Reserve (Waikanae) accompanied the seedlings on their journey to Te Tauihu also representing Ngāti Rereahu, the iwi of origin and kaitiaki of Te Pua o te Rēinga.
Unique to Aotearoa, this rare, parasitic plant grows on the roots of native forest trees, producing fragrant nectar-rich flowers and is kai to pekapeka (bats), geckos, kākāpo and a wide array of invertebrates (insects/slugs). Once found in Te Tauihu, it is now presumed extinct in the South Island, largely due to introduced pests, particularly possums.
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary’s restoration efforts, including pest removal and the recovery of native pollinators, provide hope for the species to flourish once again in its ancestral home.
Read more about Te Pua o Rēinga
