Day 2 - 23.03.2025
- Holli McEntegart
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 9
Sunday at Ngakinga was all about the wai. As we create the space we need to build in systems to water during the hot months. We lay old garden hoses through the mulch, they will be pierced so the wai will flow when we need it to.
We meet some more neighbours. Lola, an elderly Russian woman who grew up near the north-eastern Russia-China border, told us about using woad to dye her eyebrows as a young woman. Woad, (Isatis tinctoria, or dyer’s woad) is native to steppe and desert zones of Central Asia to Eastern Siberia and Western Asia. Its leaves make a blue dye and is also used as a medicinal plant, we will be growing it. Lola lives right next to Papa ki Awataha and is busy making potions for a home apothecary shop in her living room, she’s invited us to visit for tea soon.
We also planted the first bed today. Ironically with beetroot, which is not a dye, it’s a temporary stain. Not our original plan but funny, because it’s one of the most feared food stains in the kitchen! This is just how it unfolded amongst the juggle of life and kids.
To the rhythm of the beautiful beets! 🥁
Putting life into the ground felt urgent.
Tucking the seedlings into bed.
Placing our hands on the warm soil and feeling its heartbeat.
We softly wished the whenua all the goodness we could muster and said;
Ka mihi ki a Ranginui
Ka mihi ki a Papatūānuku
Ka mihi ki te wai, ki te puna
Ka mihi ki ngā tīpuna
Ka mini ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Haumi ē, hui ē, tāiki ē!
Ngakinga is a collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and native and non-native plants to co-create public art, ritual and other care practices that weave together our diverse ancestral threads while respecting Māori sovereignty, in honor ultimately of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Thanks to our supporters @northartnz and @kaipatiki.project
📷 Drone footage by Petra Leary @petraleary
