The final stage of Te Parapara – New Zealand’s first and only traditional Māori garden in a public setting which will be unveiled at Hamilton Gardens on 10. December 2010 – offers rare insight into the region’s pre-European history.

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu, paramount chief of the local Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe, and Hamilton mayor Julie Hardaker will open the new garden which also houses a number of precious Māori carvings that were previously inaccessible to the public.

The delicate works have been created with painstaking detail to remain in-keeping with age-old traditions, and complement the garden which reproduces cultivation in the area hundreds of years ago.

Traditional plantation
The first stage of the garden, which was officially opened in 2008, was a traditional plantation featuring plants either used as resources or having cultural significance for Māori.

Set on the banks of the Waikato River in the heart of Hamilton’s popular public gardens, the traditional Māori garden is designed to show visitors how food was once produced and stored.

READ MORE:  Te Parapara / Hamilton Gardens

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