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National | Auckland

Ngā Ringa Raupā - Veeshayne and Tamati Patuwai

The East Auckland community of Glen Innes has been highly publicised over the years following the impacts on local whānau over the Government's housing developments and needy children going without food.

Te Kāea looked at a couple who came up with its own solutions to their community problems by bringing families together through planting and harvesting food.

Veeshayne and Tamati Patuwai told Te Kāea, “I am the river, and the river is me. We are here on the Omaru River.

Even though this is an ancestral river, it is being polluted. This is what we do every day, looking after the community and the land.

Returning the mana, tapu and beauty back to the waterways and its surroundings.

We've been doing this for around 20 years and with the love we have for each other, we made a garden in front of our home.”