Lincoln University Researchers Launch Indigenous-Led Ngahere Kai Food Forest Trial

A research team at Lincoln University is drawing on ancient Indigenous wisdom to pioneer a new approach to sustainable horticulture in Aotearoa. As reported by RNZ’s Country Life, the team has recently completed a planting day for a ngahere kai, or food forest, a system that mimics natural forest ecosystems to produce edible crops. Project leaders Dr Chrystal O'Connor, Dr Jorie Knook, and Hiraina Tangiora from the Agribusiness and Commerce faculty are spearheading the trial at the Biological Husbandry Unit’s (BHU) organic farm. The system utilizes up to seven layers of vegetation, including edible bushes, tubers, and trees. By creating a microclimate similar to a natural forest, the method increases humidity and supports diverse plant growth in a single area. Dr O’Connor, a food biochemist, noted that while Indigenous communities like the Maya have cultivated such forests for thousands of years, there is currently a lack of data on how these systems perform in a New Zealand context. The Lincoln trial aims to apply a te ao Māori lens to this global practice, focusing on connecting communities back to the land and their food sources. The current 20-by-50-metre plot includes fruit-bearing plants such as blueberries, apricots, and mandarins, alongside native nitrogen distributors like matagouri and kākābeak. Beyond food production, the project is a "proof of concept" for environmental benefits, designed to attract birds and insects while fostering social relationships through community involvement. This is the first of three planned sections; future phases will investigate how food forests can be integrated into commercial farming systems and urban environments, specifically within papakāinga (Māori housing communities) and city parks. BHU manager Harry Baitz compared the trial's potential impact to the introduction of Granny Smith apples decades ago. Researchers hope that within the next 20 to 40 years, these Indigenous-inspired food forests will become a common sight across the New Zealand landscape.