Whakaotirangi

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Whakaotirangi was a Māori experimental gardener and early New Zealand scientist. Her name has been translated as "completion from the sky" or "the heavens complete".[1][2]

In some accounts, Whakaotirangi was the daughter of Memeha-o-te-rangi, and the wife of Ruaeo, but she was kidnapped by Tama-te-kapua, the captain of the Arawa canoe, and brought to New Zealand circa 1350.[3] Early accounts describe her as a leader, who may even have contributed to the building of the canoe.[2]

Whakaotirangi is described in both Tainui and Te Arawa traditions as the woman who carried seeds of important plants on the journey to New Zealand. According to Tainui tradition, Whakaotirangi landed at Kawhia in the Waikato, but moved around experimenting and testing plants for food and medicinal uses. In Te Arawa traditions, Whakaotirangi planted her kūmara garden of toroa-māhoe at both the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, and Maketu in the Bay of Plenty.[4] The colder climate of New Zealand required new growing methods, particularly for kūmara, which develop a characteristic taste when exposed to frost.[1] She may also have used hue (Lagenaria siceraria, calabash gourd), para (Marattia salicina, king fern), aute (paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera) and karaka (New Zealand laurel).[2] Moving to Aotea, she built a garden called Hawaiki Nui, where medicinal plants are still found.

Recognition[]

Depictions of Whakaotirangi (for example, at the ) show her with her basket of kūmara seed potatoes. She is embodied in both karakia and many .[2]

In 2017 Whakaotirangi was selected as one of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's "150 women in 150 words", celebrating the contribution of women to knowledge in New Zealand.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Whakaotirangi". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Diane Gordon-Burns; Rawiri Taonui (2011). "Whakaotirangi : a canoe tradition". He Pukenga Korero. 10 (2): 10–19. Wikidata Q106637945.
  3. ^ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Whakaotirangi". teara.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  4. ^ Tapsell, Enid (1947). "Original kumara". The Journal of the Polynesian Society. 56 (4): 325–332. ISSN 0032-4000.

External links[]

Picture of carving of Whakaotirangi at Ōtāwhao marae

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