Dr Justin Maxwell, archaeologist, talks about his engagement with Hokotehi and the past ten years or so of research work on Rēkohu which led to his PhD on Moriori and their role as agro-foresters of kōpi (karaka).

Justin has been at the core of a long-term collaborative project between Otago University and Hokotehi Moriori Trust. He describes how the bulk of his work has focused on trying to help save the kōpi forests, brought to the islands by Moriori. Alongside the cultivation of the trees was the use of kōpi as a canvas for Moriori artistic expression. Justin notes the importance of the rākau momori as an internationally important form of Polynesian artistic expression that is distinctly Moriori.

The work Justin has been doing with Hokotehi to halt decline in the kōpi groves is starting to work and he hopes this will continue to be supported and funded.


Filmed by Luke Frater. Includes tāonga puoro as performed by James Webster and recorded on Rēkohu. Directed and edited by Turi Park for Hokotehi Moriori Trust. © 2016-2018.

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