Sudburys +MORE return to Te Kura o Otangarei
The Garden Oasis project has flourished thanks to ongoing support from Sudburys +MORE with their regular working bees, where they have planted 23 fruit trees, revitalised garden beds, painted picnic tables, and built a grape pergola.
At the start of the school holidays, the Sudburys +MORE team gathered at Te Kura o Otangarei, rounding off a day of team building with some hard mahi. Armed with spades, shovels, clippers, and plenty of enthusiasm, the crew got stuck straight into weeding the kura’s māra (garden) and grounds.
This was the fourth time Sudbury’s had volunteered their time and manpower to hold a working be in the Otangarei Garden Oasis.
As she pitched in to weed and turn the soil, Te Kura o Otangarei Acting Tumuaki Teahiaaria Mills-Barber shared the rich history of the area. She explained that the original name of Otangarei was “Ngā Otaota o Reipae”, which directly translates to “the gardens of Reipae” and was historically a vital agricultural hub for Whangārei tribes.
Nestled in a sheltered valley with a warm microclimate and rich volcanic basalt soils, the area was exceptionally fertile.
Watch the highlights video to see how much mahi went into prepping the māra for the coming months.
Early Māori engineered extensive stone-wall field systems across the basin, clearing volcanic rock to create puke (mounds) and garden walls. These stones absorbed heat throughout the day and radiated warmth back into the soil at night, cleverly extending the growing season for cultivated crops like kūmara, taro, and hue (gourds). Coupled with surrounding wetlands, streams, and forest trails offering freshwater fish, birds, and wild plants, Otangarei served as a primary source of sustenance for nearby pā.
As European settlement expanded, the fertile soils and natural waterways, including the Otangarei Stream, continued to support market gardens, orchards, and pasturage supplying the growing town. By the mid-20th century, urban development transformed the area into a residential suburb, marked by the opening of Otangarei Primary School (Te Kura o Otangarei) in 1955.
Today, that rich tradition of land cultivation is coming full circle through the Garden Oasis, a joint initiative between Te Kura o Otangarei and I Have a Dream that provides a living orchard and vegetable garden to benefit both students and the wider community. Launched in 2023, the project empowers tamariki to whanake (grow), hauhake (harvest), whakarite (prepare), and whāngai (share) fresh, affordable kai. The curriculum-linked programme allows students to master core subjects while working hands-on in the garden and kitchen.
The project has flourished thanks to ongoing support from Sudburys +MORE with their regular working bees, where they have planted 23 fruit trees, revitalised garden beds, painted picnic tables, and built a grape pergola.
After an afternoon of hard mahi, the results were unmistakable. With the weeds cleared away, thriving rows of cauliflower, brussels sprouts, lettuce, herbs, and blueberries were revealed, all set for harvesting in the coming months to provide healthy, fresh kai directly for the kura and its community.
