Come along to our market stall on Saturday and get stocked up with items to help you give up plastic for Plastic Free July 2018! We’ll be launching our newly labelled Kai-tāia kete cloth shopping bags. These usually cost $3-$20 depending on size and design, but for one day only will be available for koha. Kai-tāia Kete t-shirt bags will always be optional koha, and will be welcomed back at stores if you find you are stockpiling them at home!
Cloth bags can be washed and reused many times, t-shirt and plain bags can be thrown in the washing machine, bags with decorations or unusual fabrics are better washed by hand or at least turned inside out or put in a mesh bag for washing.
We see our Kai-tāia Kete as a way of sharing our aroha for and pride in Kaitāia as well as saving the environment. We’re also sharing with them the story of how Kaitāia got its name, something to remember as we fill our bags with locally grown and sourced kai at the markets!
KAI-TAIA
Back in the time of our tupuna before supermarkets and plastic bags, there lived a handsome rangatira of Te Rarawa called Toakai.
Toakai wanted to have a family and so went in search of a wife.
Having heard of the beautiful women of Pukepoto he went there first, but alas upon arriving and seeing them all seated under the mahoe trees scenting themselves he learnt they were all betrothed.
They told him of the twins, Tarawhati and Tukootia who lived just south of (what is now known as) Kaitaia. Upon seeing the sisters, Toakai could not decide which to take as his wife and so set the sisters a challenge – the woman who grew the most and best kumara would be his wife.
Tarawhati worked industriously, tending her precious crops.
Tukootia on the other hand was somewhat lazy and left her crops to the fate of the anuhe.
Come harvest time the kumara of Tukootia were of course few, small and eaten but those of Tarawhati were healthy and plentiful, hence the name Kaitaia meaning plentiful, abundant food.
Wear your Kai-taia kete with pride
Knowing you are a part of securing a better future for our tamariki mokopuna
tupuna = ancestors rangatira= chief anuhe = caterpillar tamariki mokopuna = children grandchildren
Shortened version as told by Ross Gregory
Thanks to Good in the Hood for the funding that has allowed us to print the labels!