Te Maara Aho Aho

Ōtaki College is feeling extremely grateful to the NZCT for their significant contribution towards the rejuvenation of our newly named Te Maara Aho Aho - previously known as the Hort block, or Ōtaki College Garden. The funding received has lifted our collective spirits.

The name Aho Aho was gifted by Rupene Waaka to acknowledge Kīngi Te Aho Aho who was allocated the land (on which the maara kai sits)  by Ngāti Toa. Kīngi Te Ahoaho was of Ngāti Maiotaki descent and he was a signatory of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  Aho Aho can be interpreted as meaning ‘bright, shining, open space’ therefore “because the horticultural site is an “open-space” it is a very complimentary reflection of our tupuna.” (Rupene Waaka)

Thanks to the NZCT grant we are now able to support our volunteer staff who have been spending many hours developing our maara kai into an inviting and calming open space for our rangatahi, our staff and our community. Thank you so much to our parent volunteers (Jess Roberts, Elishka Graham and Rau Hopping) and everyone else who has contributed thus far to get our project to where it is now. 

We would especially like to thank Mike King who has come on board to share his expertise with our rangatahi, our teachers and our community. Mike is an arborist / forager / native plant product consultant who hunts unusual edible plants and mushrooms. He educates businesses and runs foraging tours for the general public - using ice cream as a way to showcase flavours.  With Mike’s extensive knowledge and experience we feel excited to see what will unfold as he collaborates with people who come to be a part of the garden project. 

As you can see from the photos, the tunnel house has become the perfect venue for real life hands-on learning. 

Come summer the open lawn and areas under the established fruit trees, grape vines and berries will become mindfulness spaces and the picnic tables and an outdoor pizza oven a relaxation space.  Aho AHo will soon be filled with music, Te Reo, laughter and song.

Ngā mihi NZCT.