The māra kai at Pourewa Reserve, feeds an estimated 100 people a week: supplying the Auckland City Mission and a social supermarket. The team follow the Maramataka (traditional Maori planting by the moon) and grow a wide range of food in a beautiful design by Matua Rob Small, as part of his Masters Degree.

The  native plant nursery was the first section to be completed, in June 2020. The activities on-site offer an ongoing legacy in terms of the protection and development of the Tāmaki plant collection, as well as the development of a seed bank of Tāmaki species. These collections help support Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as a key educator, carrier and guardian of knowledge, and leader for research around kaitiakitanga, traditional use and practices. Plants are used in the restoration of the Pourewa Valley – link opposite.