For Liz and Huia, the opportunity to work at Makaurau Marae Nursery arose, and they took it.
Nurturing comes second nature to Liz. She is a mother of two girls and has been catering at Makaurau Marae for the past 12 years. Huia has been involved for the past 10. It’s their home.
For Liz: “It’s rewarding to give back to our marae that’s raised us since we were born”.
Working together has been easy.
“The work is therapeutic, rewarding and different every day”.
The couple are loving the hands-on learning and diversity of work. They are studying horticulture through Primary ITO.
“It’s much more than taking care of plants,” say Liz.
While it all feels very new, some past work experience comes in handy. Huia is excited for her skills in stock take to come into play at the nursery. They are learning the systems for their own to emerge.
“Our boss (Aunty Tracey) is training us, with the plan for us to take this on. It’s nice to know there is a pathway. She gives us demonstrations, and we follow until we figure out the most efficient way for ourselves. She lets us find our own way”.
It’s working. A few months in, Liz and Huia already have a lot of passion for the role and drive to encourage others to pursue the same.
“I’m looking forward to holding workshops of our own, sharing what we know. It’s awesome seeing everyone's different perspectives on the environment and culture. Everyone is striving for the same thing - making sure that the land is always taken care of. It’s beautiful,” says Liz.
For Huia, restoring the plants that are dying is what matters the most.
“We put a lot of love into nurturing them back to life. We have to make sure that every plant is thriving”.
For Liz, it’s about the fruition of the whaanau coming full circle.
“We know Te Pu-a-nga Maara as a whaanau, but now on a business level too, which is cool. Seeing my whaanau in their workspaces, the Taiao Hub. Seeing where our plants go. The awa being restored. To know we had a hand in that. That’s amazing”.