How might we empower local communities to incorporate fresh produce production with traditional Māori practices, such as Maramataka, to impact the quality, quantity and knowledge of the fresh produce they consume?
Rerenga's vision is for community gardens to plant and harvest following the traditional Māori knowledge of Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, increasing the produce produced within these gardens. Rerenga streamlines Maramataka knowledge into one application to guide the users' planting and harvesting according to the Maramataka. Rerenga features a calendar to plan planting and harvesting according to the Maramataka and a Te Reo Māori fresh produce search feature.
Rerenga was created because research suggests that traditional Māori practices, specifically Maramataka, have the potential to successfully address challenges, such as food sovereignty, in local communities by restoring a sense of control over the local food production and distribution through promoting culturally appropriate healthy food and sustainable methods like community gardens. This project aims for Rerenga to be implemented across community gardens in Tāmaki Makaurau.
