Rongoā garden planting mixes old and new health practices
Modern medicine and traditional Māori wisdom are woven together at a Manawatū health clinic.
As part of a community project, the gardens around the 18-month-old Ashhurst Medical Centre have been made over as a mārā rongoā, or medicinal garden.
The project was organised by Recap, the Society for the Resilience and Engagement of the Community of Ashhurst and Pohangina.
General practitioner Ben Goddard said the health centre’s staff would be delighted to look outside the window and see an attractive garden that was full of plants known for their medicinal values.
He said it was appropriate that modern medical practitioners should respect the traditional knowledge that had served people well for centuries.
“It’s our responsibility in small projects like this to demonstrate that, ultimately, we are one people and deserve to learn about each other and learn about health together.”
Rongoā garden adviser Damian McGregor said the native plants chosen were mostly common in the region around Ashhurst. They would be a resource that would complement the work of the health centre.
He said plants were people’s primary source of wellbeing and essential to the very air humans breathed.
Some of the plants chosen for the garden were: rengarenga, which could be used to heal skin sores and ulcers; kawakawa, which was one of the most important healing herbs used by Māori for conditions such as rheumatism, stomach problems and toothache; and koromiko, to ease stomach aches and ulcers.
Recap co-ordinator Chris Love brought children from the Garden Club Kids group to help with the planting, which was carried out after a karakia that called on the sun and the guardians of life to help the healing plants to grow.
The project was paid for by a $2480 grant from the Meridian Community Fund.
Love said the money was being used to buy not only the plants, but also the compost and fertiliser for the initial stage of the garden, which would be extended further into the car park behind the building.
Money would also be spent on bilingual signs to educate passers-by about the plants and their uses.
Nicky Hart, the chief executive of Feilding Healthcare, which operates the medical service from a community trust-owned building, said she was really pleased with the creation of the mārā rongoā. “It's a great way to engage the community in learning about the history and use of medicinal plants.”
It’s time to walk, run, groove or cheer your way through the weekend.
Today
Hurricanes double-header: Hurricanes Poua vs Chiefs Manawa, 4:35pm, and Hurricanes vs Rebels, 7.05pm, CET Arena. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Palmerston North Boys’ and Girls’ high schools’ production at the Speirs Centre. Last performance is tomorrow. Tickets from the school’s website.
Tomorrow
Relay for Life: The annual Cancer Society fundraiser begins at noon at Hokowhitu Riverside Walkway, as registered teams walk and run for 24 hours.
Record fair: Sift through crates of classic records at Northend Bowling Club from 11am to 3pm. Sellers coming from as far away as Auckland. Free entry.
Wild Day Out: Learn how Wildbase supports native wildlife recovery and what you can do to help, from 11am to 1pm at Te Manawa.
Bent Horseshoe: Folk rock trio Turkey the Bird play Hokowhitu Bowling Club from 7.30pm. $25 at the door.
Upcoming
Film Society: Night Train to Munich (1940), from the UK, is screening at 6pm on March 27 at Event Cinemas. For information: nzfilmsociety.org.nz
Cemetery tour: Tour the Old Gorge Cemetery on March 31 at 2pm. Meet at the upper gate to the cemetery.
Extravaganza Fair: Travelling market stalls, arts and crafts, food, musical entertainment, including Ashton Family Circus, juggler Jeremy Penguin and Burns the Dragan, Railway Reserve, Palmerston North, April 6 and 7.
Comedy at Tony’s Pizza: Monthly standup show while enjoying a slice. $15. Next show is April 9.
Superhero Circus: Family show packed with superhero-themed circus, from April 15 to 19, at Centrepoint Theatre, 11am and 1pm.
Decade of Protest: Exhibition of news photography from the 1970s capturing civil protest, running May 1-26 at Square Edge in Palmerston North.
Matilda The Musical: The Tony Awardwinning musical, inspired by Roald Dahl’s cunning tale, in the hands of Act Three Productions, April 12-27 at The Regent on Broadway. Tickets from Ticketek.
Ongoing
Sweet and Sour: Te Pūkenga bachelor of creative media students exhibit their work until April 7 at Te Manawa.
Feilding Farmers Market: Each Friday in Manchester Square, Feilding, 8.30am-1pm.
Pop Up Eats Levin: Every Wednesday at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō car park, 5pm to 8pm.
Jazz Cafe: Every Thursday at the new venue Aqaba, 186 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North, 6pm to 8pm.
Anais Gardner and Bailey Thorne check out records for sale at a fair in Palmerston North.