Puanga a time to harvest

This year’s Puanga Garden is for the birds

Puanga celebrations for 2015 are underway throughout the city. Puanga is a time to reflect on the past, acknowledging those who have passed on whilst looking towards the future and the up-coming new season. Most other regions call this celebration Matariki as it is heralded by the arrival of the star constellation Matariki (Pleiades) in the dawn sky, though throughout the Whanganui and Taranaki region it is the rising of the preceding star Puanga (Rigel) that signals the beginning of celebrations. Matariki celebrations have gained momentum nationally in recent years and have inspired Iwi (tribe), Hapu (sub-tribe) and whanau (family) to gather for events and to share traditional Maori culture with the wider community. Whanganui is no exception and many local organisations have once again come together to create a series of events to celebrate Puanga.

Mainstreet Wanganui has once again created a Puanga Garden installation in Majestic Square to bring public awareness to the significance of this time of year. The fountain in Majestic Square has been turned off for the remainder of this month and instead of water now holds and array of native plants. Last year’s theme was ‘Raranga’ or plants used in weaving. This year’s theme is ‘Nga Manu’ or plants that are favourite food sources for our native birds. The plants represent species that provide abundant food and nesting habitats for birds. Some are common and well recognised bird habitats such as Kowhai, Pohutukawa and Harakeke (flax) others are less well known and include native alpine grasses and hebes that are favourites of the New Zealand Mountain Parrot, the Kea.

The plants have all been supplied by the Whanganui Prison Nursery who have an extensive selection of native species and the Taupō Native Nursery. “It is important to protect our native bird species, especially through the cold winter months,” says Mainstreet Marketing Manager Elise Goodge, “peoples back gardens are a vital source of food and shelter for birds and if we all plant just one native food source in our garden it can have a big collective impact.”

The garden will be de-installed on Thursday 30 July when the public are invited to visit Majestic Square at 12 noon when all the plants will be removed and given, for free, to good homes. An information sheet about all the plants in this year’s garden is available to view at mainstreetwanganui.co.nz.

What: Puanga Garden
When: Now until Thursday 30 July
Where: Majestic Square

ENDS

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