Big Kumara update

Pictures of another even bigger kumara just dug up from the same garden in Tauranga that reported a 2.4kg specimen (see "The Big Kumara")

NZBio Waikato University Workshop

Chris & Dr James R. Barker from the University of Waikato Management School

An NZBio workshop in collaboration with researchers from the University of Waikato Management School

The aim was to discuss challenges in engaging with citizens and community groups on biotech issues

Attended by around 40 people the workshop was part of an ongoing FRST funded research pogramme to develop "insights on the social and cultural sustainability of biotechnology in New Zealand"

Dr James R. Barker & Dr Karen Cronin of the ESR Integrative Research for Sustainability Group

Janine Cowling, NZBio Coordinator for the Waikato region

ESR Facilitator Jinny Baker at the 'Values & Beliefs' discussion table

Dr Alison Henderson at the 'Stakeholder Relationships' discussion table

Dr Jarrod Haar at the 'Cultural Engagement' discussion table

Venue was Hamilton's WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Art

The Big Kumara

"Hurry up and take the foto"

This big kumara (aka 'sweet potato') was one of several dug up from a garden in Tauranga which uses liquid vermicast last weekend. We can't be sure how much credit to give the worm juice but this giant of the Convolvulaceae family has some impressive statistics:

• Circumference 45cm
• Length 27cm
• Width 15cm
• Weight 2.4kg

By the way, a recent carbon-dating study indicates that of the ancient middens found so far which contain varieties of kumara, those from Papua New Guinea appear to be significantly older than those from Central or South America - no real surprise there

Anybody got a good recipe?

The big kumara with fruit


The big kumara with bottle of wine


Waiting for dinner

Scion Vermi-Research Trial at Onepu

Worms mating on Michael's hand

The research site at Onepu (near Kawerau) was established last year by Dr. agr. Michael Quintern of Scion. It contains 18 plots that are being used to trial combinations of different biosolids toward optimisation of the vermicomposting process around primary sector 'waste-streams'

I'm loving it - worms getting into a trial plot containing mulched tomato plants

This used to be lake weed now its premium fertiliser

Don't mess with WormPower!

Large adult worms and their egg capsules

Hera holding some biosolid waste from the pulp & paper industry

Covering for the 18 trial plots

Michael explaining to Helen and Ben about the different trial plots

Wormtech NZ Ltd

Ben Banks of EBOP contemplating the specially designed worm harvester

Wormtech began in 1999 following the desire by Greg Walker - one of the founders of the innovative company - for a career change from farming. Located near Te Teko in the eastern Bay of Plenty, Wormtech now have more than 2km of vermicomposting windrows which are fed around 10 tonnes of tutae from local piggeries each week

Initially the focus was on producing worms for sale rather than liquid fertiliser or vermicast. Wormtech have since established a partner company that offers liquid fertiliser services for orchard and pasture throughout the Bay of Plenty via soil aeration technology

A point of interest was that the early windrows contained a mixture of both red and tiger worms but over time the red worms have nearly all disappeared whereas the tiger worm population continues to thrive

Thanks Greg for your excellent korero and cheers Michael for organising the trip - WormPower!

Greg Walker of Wormtech showing us around the vermicomposting windrows


Wormtech have established more than 2km of vermicomposting windrows


Worms feasting on fresh tutae-poaka laid out every Monday and Thursday on the windrows


After being processed by the worms the vermicast is left in the windrow until required


Greg with some of the packaged worms ready for their trip to new homes in Auckland

Geothermal Seminar in Rotorua

Reece Moors from the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology (FRST)

Billed as "Providing information on understanding and growing your geothermal capability" the hui - organised by GNS Science & Te Puni Kokiriand held at the Heritage Hotel - was aimed at Maori owners of landblocks holding geothermal resources. According to the invitation panui: "The prime objective of this seminar is to provide opportunities for the Maori economic sector to engage and focus on successful pathways to commercialising their unique resource potential"

As would be expected the majority of those attending were connected with the larger Ngati Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa trusts & incorporations. Overall the hui provided a good range of subject areas and relevant expertise, with the Chilean speaker Luis Urzura (who is also from the Mapuche people on his mothers side) drawing a particularly good response from the audience

But as with last years geothermal conference the resource potential was overwhelmingly focused on energy rather than extremophiles. This imbalance is difficult to resolve given that the financial cost and therefore risk of an unsuccessful drilling exploration on just one site can be in the region of $7 - 8m; larger than the entire annual funding available from FRST for Maori research & innovation. Better to build deals where the energy companies carry most of the risk rather than the landowners or otherwise focus on local solutions for papakainga

Jim Gray questioning representatives from Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Council (EBOP)
Brian White from the NZ Geothermal Association

"Yes our use of geothermal will be sustainable but the point is our people are broke and want to get the maximum return from their resource" - Jim Gray

Jessica Wiseman and Dougall Gordon from EBOP with their koha bottles of wine

"Vision Matauranga" - Reece Moors and Anna de Raadt of FRST

"In many ways [the use of geothermal resources] has to be led and driven by Maori - I don't see it as being government's role in leading where Maori research & development should go" - Reece Moors

Luis Urzula from Mighty River Power talking with trustees of landblocks in the Taupo area

Alec Wilson being interviewed for the Maori tv channel

Thankyou letters from Rotokawa School

Whenua.biz recently helped sponsor a worm digestor as an environmental education resource for Rotokawa School. We received these cool thankyou letter from the kids...

Trip to Aorangi - Awarua

Big thanks to the Aorangi Awarua Trust for supporting this mahi, and especially to Tama, Krystal & Charlie who showed us around their spectacular maunga in te rohepotae o Mokai-Patea. Kia ora Stephen for bringing it together

We took heaps of photos - these are just a few to give you an idea of how choice it was doing bush research. Will upload a selection of more informative photos from the fungi survey in a separate post

Approaching the dropoff zone near the top of Aorangi maunga

The northen cliffs of Aorangi - dropoff zone is to the right of the big rock

On our way up over the summit to begin 1st day of the fungi survey

Stephen & Krystal

View toward Ruapehu from the top of Aorangi

Rock formation on the southern side of the maunga

Krystal, Tama & Charlie our Tangata Whenua guides + Stephen wearing his IRL potae

Ohutu Hut

For the townies

Relaxing after the 2nd day of surveying for fungi

Processing for identification purposes one of more than 50 types of fungi

The Trust is installing a large number of stoat traps as part of its environmental programme

Kia ora Charlie for the fresh venison

Tama the kaitiaki sharing his korero while we wait for the chopper to pick us up

Packing our stuff into the chopper

Back out to Taihape

Trip to Pirongia maunga

Looking out to Pirongia maunga from the Mamaku

A brief photo essay sampling various shots taken to identify types of forest fungi on a landblock bordering the slopes of Pirongia maunga. It was such a perfect day that we just kept climbing to check the awesome views from the top

A local korero gives Pirongia maunga as the place where Tuhoe-potiki met his end after falling off the side of one of the many precipices found in this rugged bush country

Some types of harore appear to glow in the dark

A large specimen of the Taringa type (aka Ganodermataceae family) in beautiful condition

Approaching te puke ko Wharauroa

Bright blue globular fungi look like eggs that have fallen from their nest

Large puff ball fungi (Lycoperdaceae family) in state of decay near the summit

Many types of fungi bring vibrant colour to the forest

Note curving of the stalks

A glimpse of Kakepuku through the trees

Indigenous Knowledge Conference

The Whenua.biz poster presentation highlighted our research on therapeutic properties of the Awheto

The International Network of Indigenous Health Knowledge & Development Conference occurred over 15 - 17 October in Rotorua

To download a pdf version of the Whenua.biz poster prepared for the INIHKD Conference click here