Harko Brown - Taonga tākaro expert (Smith's Bush)

The ngahere (forests) of this wider region once flourished in fertile swamp lands. With their draining the majesty of the tallest trees has declined however Smith’s Bush remains an important ecological enclave where culturally important totara, kahikatea, puriri and many native bird species thrive. Harko Brown will take us for an informative talk, along raised walkways, around this 6 hectare gem to reminisce about the cultural importance of the flora and will facilitate traditional games associated with the tree protocols once practiced and utilised in these forests.