He Toki biodiversity project
The He Toki biodiversity project is a collaborative effort to create a ‘micro forest’ on campus.
Hutia te rito o te harakeke kei hea te kōmako e kō?
If the heart of the flax was removed, where would the bellbird sing?
About the project
A rewilding project has been undertaken on the Otago Polytechnic campus in an effort to promote biodiversity. A ‘micro forest’ has been planted to provide habitat for insects and birdlife.
This undertaking involved collaboration with mana whenua and involved staff and students from many areas of the Polytechnic — the Sustainability Rōpū, the Kaitohutohu Office, and the Horticulture and Communication Design programmes.
With the opening of He Toki Kai Te Rika | Trades Training Centre, a piece of undeveloped land was available to put the biodiversity project into action.
Alongside the planting and landscaping, a mural was created by Lucia Brown, a Communication Design student, to engage people with the space and provide information about the history and context of the area.
“It’s been a great experience working with so many stakeholders, and especially getting students involved at different stages,” says Kath Danaher, a Learning and Teaching Specialist and member of the Sustainability Rōpū who has been involved in this biodiversity project from the start.
“This has meant that the final result doesn’t belong to any one group but reflects a shared enterprise that everybody can feel proud of.”
About the land
The Polytechnic campus and Logan Park is built on reclaimed land where a wetland once flourished. Native plants such as harakeke, tōtara and kahikatea provided food and shelter for the local birdlife, including moa, korimako (bellbird) and tōrea (oystercatchers).
'Te tūtae o te mātauira' and 'Tauraka-pīpīpī' are the place names associated with this area, and are featured on the mural.
Te tūtae o te mātauira is the name of the kaika (settlement) at the mouth of the Ōwheo, also known as the Leith.
Tauraka-pīpīpī is the name for Black Jacks Point, which is the site of the Logan Point Quarry.
This lagoon area was abundant with plants, birds and seafood that were important sources of kai and medicines for mana whenua.
During the construction of Otago Polytechnic’s campus in the 1980s, toki (tools) were discovered. The three adze blades and a pounamu chisel come from slightly different time periods, with the oldest dating back to the moa hunting period of 1000-1400 CE. The He Toki Kai Te Rika | Trades Training Centre is named to commemorate these artefacts. He Toki Te Rika translates to ‘a tool in the hand’.
Artist statement from Lucia Brown
We want to honour the legacy of this land, its history, its people, and its biodiversity. The mural, and accompanying sign and video, are meant to encourage people to engage in learning about the area, its history, and its potential.
In the mural I have included a korimako (bellbird) and harakeke (flax). There is a map that provides a bird’s eye view of how the land used to be, which includes the Māori placenames associated with the area.
