Gardening is often seen as a practical task — selecting plants, preparing soil, and maintaining landscapes. Yet in te ao Māori (the Māori world), gardening is far more than a technical exercise. It is a cultural practice deeply rooted in history, spirituality, and community. Māori philosophy teaches that plants are not isolated objects but living beings connected to people, animals, and the wider environment through mauri, the life force that flows through all living things.
This worldview transforms how we think about landscaping and amenity horticulture. Instead of focusing only on aesthetics or convenience, Māori philosophy encourages us to see gardens as living communities where every plant, stone, and waterway carries meaning.
🌿 Historical Roots of Māori Gardening
When Polynesian ancestors of the Māori arrived in Aotearoa (New Zealand), they brought with them long-established gardening traditions. Crops such as kūmara (sweet potato), taro, and yam were cultivated using techniques adapted to the cooler climate of Aotearoa.
- Whakatō Te Kākano (to plant the seed): This phrase reflects both the literal act of planting and the symbolic act of establishing life and continuity.
- Rua kūmara (storage pits): Ingenious underground structures were built to store kūmara, protecting them from frost and rot.
- Māra kai (food gardens): These were central to community survival and identity, often located near rivers or fertile soils.
Gardening was not just about food security; it was an expression of whakapapa (genealogy). Every plant was seen as part of an unbroken chain linking people to Papatūānuku (earth mother) and Ranginui (sky father).
🌏 Beliefs and Philosophical Foundations
Māori philosophy of gardening rests on several key beliefs:
- Whakapapa (genealogy): All living things are connected. Plants are part of the whānau (family) of Papatūānuku.
- Mauri (life force): Every plant carries mauri, which must be respected and nurtured.
- Kaitiakitanga (guardianship): Humans are caretakers of the land, responsible for ensuring balance and sustainability.
- Tapu and noa (sacred and ordinary states): Certain plants, sites, or practices were considered tapu (sacred), requiring rituals before use.
These beliefs shaped practical gardening decisions. For example, planting and harvesting often followed lunar cycles, with certain phases of the moon considered more favorable for growth. Rituals and karakia (prayers) were performed to acknowledge the spiritual dimension of gardening.
🌼 Plants as Companions
Māori philosophy emphasizes that plants, like humans, are influenced by their companions.
- Supportive relationships: Some plants improve soil health or provide shelter for others.
- Competitive relationships: Others may inhibit growth if poorly matched.
- Behavioral changes: Plants adapt depending on their neighbors, much like people adapt within communities.
For example, planting nitrogen-fixing species alongside crops could enhance fertility, while shelter belts of native trees protected gardens from wind. This reflects the Māori understanding that harmony in the environment leads to resilience.
🌸 Healthy Growth
Plants thrive when their needs are met. In Māori thought, this parallels human health: when nourished, plants resist illness and grow into their natural form.
- Too fertile soil: Produces weak, sappy growth vulnerable to disease.
- Poor air movement: Koromiko (hebes), which prefer dry, sunny conditions, may develop mildew if grown in damp sites.
A stressed plant is more susceptible to pests and disease, while a well-placed plant embodies balance and strength. This mirrors the Māori belief that health arises from harmony between organism and environment.
🌺 Flowering and Fruiting
Flowering and fruiting are central to Māori and Pasifika cultures because they ensure whakapapa continues. Plants reproduce, maintaining their lineage and their connection to people and place.
- Fertile soil plants: Magnolia (M. grandiflora), citrus (Citrus × sinensis), and hosta thrive in nutrient-rich soils.
- Poor soil plants: Protea, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and Coprosma (Coprosma repens) flourish in leaner soils.
Excess nutrients can hinder flowering, while nutrient-poor conditions may trigger abundant blooms as survival strategy. In Māori philosophy, the role of the gardener is to support plants in fulfilling their reproductive purpose, not to force unnatural growth.
🌳 Reduced Maintenance
Appropriate plant selection reduces the need for constant intervention.
- Height considerations: Avoid tall species under power lines to prevent endless pruning.
- Wind tolerance: Choose plants with strong root systems to minimize staking.
- Soil compatibility: Select plants suited to existing pH and nutrient levels, reducing fertiliser use.
- Water efficiency: Use drought-tolerant species to minimize irrigation once established.
This reflects kaitiakitanga — working with nature rather than against it. By respecting the natural strengths of plants, maintenance becomes lighter and more sustainable.
💰 Cost Savings
Selecting plants that suit the site avoids expensive modifications such as drainage, irrigation, windbreaks, or frost covers. By working with the environment rather than reshaping it, landscapes become more sustainable and cost-effective.
🌿 Examples of Māori Gardening Practices in Modern Landscaping
- Māra kai revival: Communities across Aotearoa are re-establishing traditional food gardens, blending ancestral techniques with modern sustainability goals.
- Native plantings: Using species like harakeke (flax) and kawakawa not only supports biodiversity but also honors cultural traditions.
- Sacred groves: Certain areas are planted with native trees to acknowledge tapu and provide spaces for reflection.
These practices show how Māori philosophy continues to shape contemporary horticulture, offering lessons for amenity landscaping that values both beauty and meaning.
🌏 Key Points
The benefits of appropriate plant selection, guided by Māori philosophy, include:
- Good-looking plants
- Healthy growth with fewer pests and diseases
- Successful flowering and fruiting
- Reduced maintenance needs
- Cost savings through fewer environmental changes
Māori philosophy in gardening is not just about plants — it is about relationships, respect, and resilience. By seeing plants as part of the whānau of Papatūānuku, we learn to design landscapes that are culturally meaningful, ecologically sustainable, and spiritually connected.
In amenity horticulture, this approach ensures that gardens are more than recreational spaces; they become living communities where people and plants thrive together.
👉 Next blog: Practical guidance on selecting plants for soil, climate, and cultural requirements.
What is the philosophy of gardening?
In te ao Māori, gardening is not just about growing plants — it’s about nurturing relationships. The philosophy centers on mauri (life force), whakapapa (genealogy), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). Plants are seen as living relatives, part of the whānau of Papatūānuku (earth mother). Gardening becomes a way to maintain balance, honor ancestry, and care for the environment.
What are the 5 core Māori values?
While values may vary across iwi (tribes), five commonly recognized principles in Māori environmental and cultural practice include:
- Whakapapa – acknowledging genealogy and interconnectedness
- Mauri – respecting the life force in all living things
- Manaakitanga – showing care and hospitality to others
- Kaitiakitanga – acting as guardians of the land and resources
- Tapu and Noa – understanding sacredness and balance in everyday life
These values guide how plants are selected, cared for, and integrated into landscapes.
What is the garden analogy in philosophy?
In broader philosophy, the garden is often used as a metaphor for cultivation — of ideas, relationships, or ethics. In Māori thought, the garden is a living system where every element has a role and whakapapa. It’s not just a metaphor but a real, spiritual and ecological space where balance must be maintained. A well-tended garden reflects a well-tended community.
Did Māori practice agriculture?
Yes. Māori developed sophisticated agricultural systems adapted to Aotearoa’s climate. They cultivated crops like kūmara, taro, and yam using techniques such as raised beds, stone mulching, and rua kūmara (storage pits). Gardening was communal, seasonal, and deeply spiritual — guided by lunar cycles, karakia (prayers), and tikanga (customs).
What are Māori tikanga practices?
Tikanga refers to customary practices and protocols. In gardening, this includes:
- Performing karakia before planting or harvesting
- Observing seasonal rhythms and lunar cycles
- Respecting tapu areas and plants
- Practicing kaitiakitanga by avoiding overharvesting and protecting biodiversity
These practices ensure that gardening is done with respect, intention, and cultural integrity.
How does Te Ao Māori view the environment?
Te Ao Māori sees the environment as a living, spiritual entity. Humans are part of nature — not separate from it. Mountains, rivers, plants, and animals all have whakapapa and mauri. This worldview promotes stewardship, reciprocity, and deep respect for the land. In gardening, it means choosing plants that belong, that support biodiversity, and that reflect the values of the community.
