On 23 May 2026, around 40 participants gathered at Rātā Marae for a highly successful Pūtōrino e Rua wānanga. Blessed with fine weather and clear skies, the day began at 9:00 am with a pōwhiri, followed by morning tea.
The morning session featured presentations from project students Lisa Martin, Liam Barclay, and Luke Enoka, who shared insights into tree-ring research, the history of the Pūtōrino area, and waka traditions. A particular highlight was viewing a selection of stumps and logs sampled by the research team from Merchiston Estate for tree-ring dating. Some of these samples are approximately 300 years old. Given that the trees were felled during land clearance more than a century ago, the findings indicate that the landslide deposits at Merchiston Estate are likely more than 400 years old—significantly predating both the 1855 Wairarapa Earthquake and European settlement in this part of the Rangitīkei Valley.
Following a magnificent lunch prepared by the marae, including brandy snaps with fresh cream, participants headed into the field. Dr Andrew Wells of Wildlands Consulting demonstrated how to extract tree cores from tōtara trees, providing a hands-on introduction to dendrochronology techniques. The group then visited Te Hou Hou, where Utiku Potaka shared the rich history of the area and guided participants to a stunning vantage point overlooking the surrounding landscape.
The day concluded with a visit to a waka and pātaka located on John McManaway’s dairy farm. Here, Warren Warbrick spoke about traditional waka construction methods and demonstrated how large waka were crafted using stone tools.
The wānanga provided a valuable opportunity to share research progress, connect science with mātauranga Māori, and strengthen relationships between researchers, mana whenua, landowners, and the wider community. The enthusiasm and engagement shown throughout the day highlight the growing momentum behind the Pūtōrino e Rua project and its efforts to better understand the history of this remarkable landscape.
Attendees are getting split into two groups down Te Hou Hou Road for a field trip
Dr Andrew Wells coring a Podocarpus totara at Pātōtara and explaining what information you can learn from dendroecology